Fashion designers lend a hand

By Ioana Tupa'i 06 November 2017, 12:00AM

Three local Fashion Designers who have just returned from a successful stint at the Pacific Runway Fashion Show held in Sydney Australia have given back to the Samoa Cancer Society.

Yesterday, Natalya Ah Him of Pele’s Creations, Dane Mulinu’u Fabricius of D.M.F and Cecilia Keil of Cecilia’s Fashion House presented $2,550 to the Samoa Cancer Society to help with their work.

Natalya Ah Him said the donation was inspired by former Miss South Pacific and Miss Samoa, Manamea Apelu-Schwalger, who has become the face of Cancer awareness in Samoa. 

“I thought this is a perfect time to give back to her with all the help, inspiration that she has given to me,” she said.

 “Through Manamea Apelu Schwalger, we also remember our loved ones who have passed on due to cancer. We remember everyone battling with cancer and the survivors.”

The money was presented to the Executive Officer of the Samoa Cancer Society, Shelley Burich, who expressed her heartfelt thank you to the designers.

She said every bit of donation counts towards their mission to spread the message about the importance of early detection of cancer so it could be cured.

Mrs. Burich also paid tribute to Manamea’s advocacy work, especially with the recent Pinktober where she and the Miss Samoa Alumni rallied to get the country behind the campaign. 

The Samoa Cancer Society has been in operation since 1998 and has developed to where it is today thanks to the generous support of the government, development partners, supporters and the help from the community.

Mrs. Burich said any help they receive is appreciated.

As for Pinktober, she said: “It’s been an amazing campaign and we really thank Samoa for their support, for getting behind the Samoa Cancer Society but also getting behind the people that we work for.”

Mrs. Burich estimates that some $30,000 had been raised for the work of the Samoa Cancer Society during Pinktober.

By Ioana Tupa'i 06 November 2017, 12:00AM

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