Cancer battle

In his memoir, serialised in the Daily Mail, the 'Rocketman' hit-maker describes how his prostate cancer operation caused an infection, leaving him "24 hours from death".

He prayed in hospital: "Please don't let me die - please let me see my kids again".

"I lay awake all night, wondering if I was going to die," he writes.

Sir Elton was cured of the illness following successful surgery, and is currently back on tour. He'll play four shows in New Zealand in February.

Vicki Letele was jailed last year for property fraud. Soon after she started her sentence she was diagnosed with stomach cancer and given six months to live.

RNZI reports her family unsuccessfully appealed to the Parole Board for an early release, before the Corrections Department agreed to review the decision.

Corrections urged the board to urgently consider compassionate release, resulting in that decision being overturned in November, and Letele being released from Wiri Prison.

Her brother Dave said she died peacefully surrounded by her family last night.

The President of the Samoa Arts Council who recently hosted the first Samoa Fashion Week in September, is also a well know dance choreographer and mentor in the Pacific.

Behind all his accomplishments, Tuilagi has been facing a battle of his own for three months now.

“Arts, that is what God gave to me, and that is what I want to give back. To have a place for our generations and people in the future to dance. I dedicate this SPACE to dance for Cancer,”he added.