A local gym has stepped forward to support the Samoa Cancer Society and will donate proceeds from one of its opening days to the battle against cancer.

Tuiloma Walterlee Imo, of MY Fitness Studio, told the Samoa Observer the proceeds collected this Friday will be donated to the Society.

He said he has seen other companies support the fight against cancer during the PinkTober month and it was only right his gym went down the same path.

“And I thought, since we’ve established the gym and we’re all about health, I think it’s time for the gym to give back to the community of Samoa,” he said.

Having seen people in his family get diagnosed with cancer, Tuiloma said physical activity and staying fit can keep the disease at bay or prolong one’s life, which is why they support the fundraising initiative.

The gym’s membership also support the move with Tuiloma adding that family and relatives of he and his wife Memoree AhHim Imo, have also fallen victim to the disease.

“So it wasn’t suddenly we just wanted to come in and do it. But I asked people of our members out here in the gym, also my wife and she was all for it,” he said.

“Like my family, her family and close members here as well. Both my parents got affected by cancer and if I can help in any way, I’m not a doctor but as a trainer I am definitely going to help out,” he said. 

Fridays are hectic at the gym as it plays host to three programmes including ZUU which is one of their high intensity interval training. 

Tuiloma said the gym’s three coaches agreed that all proceeds raised that day will go to the Society, and they did background checks to ascertain what the Society did for people with the disease.

“Because I didn’t know what the cancer society did, so I actually went and did a little bit of research and asked around what actually they did,” he said.

“For them to do a rehab for people who had operations and stuff, which is something we could have supported, and my team and I were all for it as well as the people who are members in our gym.”

Tuiloma said they are not offering their support this month, just because everyone else is doing it. But instead want to know where the funds to the Society will go and how they can help. 

A total of 40 people have already registered for the first ever fundraising event with most of them gym regulars and personal training clients with family and friends. 

Adopting the ‘no pain no gain’ philosophy, Tuiloma said he is encouraging those participating in the fundraising to think of cancer sufferers and what they had to endure, while noting that what they will feel during the session is short term.