MEMORIAL SERVICES BEING HELD FOR SONNY FAI NEXT WEEK

Sonny Fai’s life is to be marked at two memorial services in Auckland next week.
The 20-year-old Vodafone Warriors rugby league player disappeared after rescuing his brother and four cousins when they got into difficulty at Bethells Beach on January 4.
He was due to be reunited with his NRL team-mates the following day for the start of the club’s preseason training programme ahead of the 2009 campaign.
Despite extensive searches and the Fai family’s constant vigils, there has been no sign of Sonny since.
Today his sister Lalelei said the family had decided it was time to honour him.
“We are going through a difficult time, still praying and hoping that Sonny will come back to us,” she said.
“We haven’t given up but as a family we need to carry on with our lives and Sonny deserves to have his life celebrated in an appropriate way. I thank God that Dad and Mum have found the strength to decide to have these memorial services. It’s a big step for them to do this.
“We also thought it was best to honour Sonny this way before the Warriors start the NRL season. They are such a big part of this. They’ve been like family throughout the whole time and we know Sonny would have wanted us to do it this way.”
Lalelei Fai said the first memorial service would be held at the Samoan Methodist Church in Otahuhu at 10.00am on Monday (March 9) followed by a gathering at the Malaeola Community Centre in Mangere.
On Tuesday there would be another service at Bethells Beach, starting at 4.00pm and followed by what Lalelei said would be a celebration party.
“The service at our church and then the gathering at the community centre will be private for family, close friends, the Warriors and church members,” she said.
“We would like the public to join us at Bethells Beach the following day. After the service near the water we will be having a party. We’ll have Sonny’s music playing and we want everyone to help us celebrate his life.”
Lalelei Fai said the family planned to have a plaque placed at Bethells Beach commemorating Sonny.
Meanwhile, Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said the club was well advanced in its plans for a special Sonny Fai day when the club’s NRL and NYC teams play South Sydney at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday, April 5. The NRL has also approved a request from the club to have both teams on the field for a minute’s silence before the Vodafone Warriors’ season-opening NRL encounter with Parramatta on March 14.