The Samoa Cancer Society was the recipient of just over five thousand tala from the Samoa International Game Fishing Association (S.I.G.F.A.) who spearheaded this year’s Movema fundraiser. 

Coined by the Samoa Cancer Society, Movema is the official name for awareness campaigns on prostate cancer during the month of November each year. 

The highlight fundraiser event to encourage our men to get checked for signs of prostate cancer, is the MO (moustache) and Beard Shave.

S.I.G.F.A. members decided to carry out the fundraiser following an outing in Savaii during the October Palolo rising this year.

There, some S.I.G.F.A. members were challenged to grow their Mo’s for prostate cancer awareness and to raise a few dollars at the same time for the Samoa Cancer Society. 

S.I.G.F.A. member Michael Rasmussen says that prostate cancer is a silent killer that up until recently was rarely spoken of in our society.

He said it was good to see the men of S.I.G.F.A. ready to sacrifice their mo’s and beards to help raise awareness and hopefully convince themselves to get a check up.

Leituala Dr Ben Matalavea – who is coincidently S.I.G.F.A’s tournament Doctor, was the keynote speaker on the night of the “Movema” event. 

He emphasized the importance of getting tested and getting over the stigma that island males have towards being tested. 

He then volunteered as the first shave for the night! 

“Some of the Mo’s had been in their position on upper lips for over 40yrs with special mention going to Arthur Penn and Seiuli Hansel who’s Mo’s had a combined age of ninety nine years. For them it was a bit like losing a dear friend,” Mr. Rasmussen said.

In 2017, the number of Prostate Cancer Patients referred to the Samoa Cancer Society for Palliative Care reveals that following breast cancer, it is the fourth highest type of cancer that is affecting the male population in the country.

Prostate Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the prostate. Prostate cancer generally grows slowly and men can live for so many years without symptoms and without the disease spreading to other parts of the body. However, sometimes the disease spreads quickly and can kill.

For the team at S.I.G.F.A., they remember some of their associate members and friends who have either lost their battles to prostate cancer or are currently battling this most common form of cancer amongst them. 

C.E.O. Shelley Burich was on hand to express the Society’s appreciation to S.I.G.F.A. for their $5,061.50 generosity while applauding their bravery in letting go of their MOs and Beards for a great cause. Some of the telling symptoms of prostate cancer to look out for includes frequent or sudden need to urinate, discomfort or difficulty urinating, blood in the urine or semen and pain in the lower back, upper thighs or hips. 

The events for the next Movema will be circulated by the Samoa Cancer Society in 2019.