EMOTIONS ran high as 43 volunteers had their hair shaved off for Walk On Walk Strong (WOWS) Shave it or Save (SOS) it yesterday at the Vodafone Arena.
Each spoke of their motivation behind joining WOWS SOS and recalled stories of loved ones they had lost to cancer.
Jeremy Duxbury, the owner of rugby magazine Teivovo was in the first batch of volunteers that had their hair shaved.
He spoke of how worthy the WOWS SOS cause was.
"Any parent would gladly sacrifice their life for their child with cancer if given the opportunity," he said.
"No parent wants their children dying before them.
"My cousin died from this illness and it's a hard thing to experience.
"This is a really believable cause because we all know of someone either a friend or family member who has died from cancer — it affects us all," said Mr Duxbury.
Another volunteer, Felicia Hazelman of ANZ Fiji shed tears as she remembered her best friend who had died last year from cancer.
Torika Brodie, a national sports rep in hobie cat spoke of how she as a parent was affected seeing children with cancer suffering.
"I have a disabled son, not from cancer but I know how hard it is as a parent to watch your child suffer.
"Every family member is affected one way or another when there is a sick child." WOWS Fiji chairman, Matthew Wilson praised everyone that contributed to WOWS, either in pledges or support.
"Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts," he said.
WOWS SOS chairman Dom Sansom said the response this year had been encouraging, adding money raised from this year's campaign would help finance a home for children with cancer which would be located near the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.
"Last year's campaign was good but this year it's been even greater!
"We have had people coming in this morning (yesterday) to pledge their support and get signed up to have their hair shaved," said Mr Sansom.