Tofa is getting a haircut!

My cousin Petra is pretty special. At the age of 6, she fell off one of those roundabouts at the park at Waikanae Beach. She was taken to hospital with a suspected broken rib, but instead of a fracture they found a cancerous tumor about the size of an iPhone 4. This bittersweet moment began the uphill battle Petra has fought since. After 6 tumors, many rounds of radio and chemotherapy, major surgeries and a spinal reconstruction, she was diagnosed with a neurological disorder (paraneoplastic syndrome) at 19. She has been through it all.

In the busy lives we lead, we can often get upset over small things. I am constantly reminded of the challenges Petra faces daily and this inspires me to be thankful for the life I lead.

As a small token of gratitude, I will be running a month-long fundraiser for the Wellington Children’s Hospital and CanTeen. These two organisations provided invaluable help to Petra and our family through some tough times.

The objective is to raise $4,370 for a medical grade drug fridge for the new Wellington Children’s Hospital which is opening later this year.

At the end of the month, I will get a haircut after three and a half years without one! I will donate my hair to be made into a wig for CanTeen. Any extra money I raise over the $4,370 will also go to CanTeen.

Lastly, I will conduct 8 hours of volunteer work for every $1000 I raise.

I have a few events planned for the month to help me raise money, so stay tuned!