Days before Leu Saipani planned to celebrate the fifth birthday of his Dickson barbershop, Most Valuable Barber, and sell it to a new owner, arsonists torched MVB – “a cowardice act that has left him and his family down an income, and with a large financial hill to climb to get it up and running again”, friend Dylan Aitolu said.

“It’s had a direct impact on my finances, on my family, our well-being, our income, our stability,” Mr Saipani said. “I’m at a loss. I don’t have an income – and I’m liable for all the repairs and the costs of the shop to get it back up and operational.”

Mr Aitolu has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser with a target of $15,000.

“Leu is one of the best givers I know,” Mr Aitolu wrote. “Giver of knowledge, advice, support – whatever he has access to, he’s willing to give it away to someone in need. Contrary to that, he rarely asks for help, and is a fraction as good as taking it as he is at giving it.

“So I’ve set this up on his behalf because I know he wouldn’t, with the hopes that the community, people he’s served in the chair, family and loved ones will support my brother get back on his feet.”

Mr Saipani, a former Canberra Raiders under-20s player, created the MVB brand in 2020, and cut hair from his garage for two years before moving to Challis Street in Dickson.

The barber’s was, he said, “a safe place for men to come to, almost a refuge for men in this modern time”.

“I’ve been in the barber game for 15 years,” Mr Saipani said. “I had a vision of operating out of my own shop one day, serving and employing people, and having a greater impact than being limited to just one barber chair. I’m very passionate about my craft – it stems beyond the chair…

“I’ve watched people in my community grow over the time that I’ve served them. I’ve been there for the important moments: you’re requested to cut hair for weddings, for the highs and lows of life.”

Mr Saipani had found a new buyer for his shop, and had planned to mark the occasion with a day of free haircuts and music – but his shop was set alight in the small hours of Thursday 20 August.

“My main focus at this point is just to get the shop back to operational,” Mr Saipani said.

“There’s not much help people can do for me right now, apart from supporting and helping me get my shop back up and running. Because I’m absorbing and wearing all this personally and copping this loss financially, it’s also got an emotional burden – it’s taking a toll psychologically. This [fundraiser] would help to alleviate some of that suffering.”