Incredible sum raised for Home and Away star Alea O'Shea, 25, on GoFundMe as she fights brain cancer - and reveals her devastating hair loss

 Alea O'Shea's friends have raised over $80,000 for the actress on GoFundMe as she continues to fight brain cancer. 

The fundraiser for the social media star, who was diagnosed with the disease last year, has a goal of $90,000, with the donations rising daily.

'Over the past months, Alea has been bravely facing brain cancer and the many treatments that come with it,' organiser Lauren Newton wrote on the page.

'Last week she underwent another surgery as part of her ongoing fight. While her courage has never wavered, the journey has been incredibly challenging for both Alea and her family,' she continued. 

'Many people in our community have been asking how they can help. This page has been created to give friends, family, and the wider community a way to support Alea by helping ease the financial pressure of medical treatments and related expenses.'

The GoFundMe had an initial goal of $80,000, but that was raised when it was reached on Monday.  

Alea O'Shea's friends have raised over $80,000 for the actress on GoFundMe as she continues to fight brain cancer. Pictured in 2024

Alea, who starred as Darcy Callahan on Home and Away between 2011 and 2014 and  again from 2016 to 2017, recently documented the hair loss she has suffered as a result of radiation therapy as she battles the illness.  

The star first revealed she had been diagnosed with brain cancer in December. 

Sharing the news to her 300,000 combined followers, she said the past few weeks had been nothing short of 'insane'.

Although clearly shocked at her recent diagnosis, she promised fans she would be open about her condition as she prepares to undergo treatment.

'This is a video I obviously thought I'd never have to make, but I've recently been diagnosed with brain cancer,' she began.

'Saying that like, a hook, is insane. It's been a crazy few weeks.'

Alea explained she underwent a biopsy on her birthday, and has been 'waiting for results in a bit of limbo' ever since.

'Now that I finally have some clarity, I just want to share what's going on.

The fundraiser for the social media star, who was diagnosed with the disease last year, has a goal of $90,000, with the donations rising daily

'I'm choosing to be open and honest about this online, because I want to live my life as normally as possible while I'm fighting this,' she said 

I'm choosing to be open and honest about this online, because I want to live my life as normally as possible while I'm fighting this.'

Alea revealed that her ordeal began around six weeks prior with tiny changes she initially brushed off.

'I noticed that my smile was a little uneven, and it felt harder to talk [and] get my words out,' she said.

'I had a few migraines, but nothing scary.'

However things escalated rapidly while she was recently in the United States working.

'While I was in LA I lost feeling in two of my fingers, which then crept into my wrist and then my toe,' she explained.

At first, Alea assumed it was something minor, like a pinched nerve, so she went to her physiotherapist to have it checked out.

'He immediately realised it was beyond his scope and sent me to get a brain scan. And that's how we found it.'

Alea, who starred as Darcy Callahan on Home and Away between 2011 and 2014 and again from 2016 to 2017, recently documented the hair loss she has suffered as a result of radiation therapy as she battles the illness

The star first revealed she had been diagnosed with brain cancer in December

The actress is now urging others to trust their gut when their body feels 'off', and to advocate for themselves when seeking help.

'When something feels off even slightly, pay attention to it and find the right professionals who will take you seriously.'

Despite the news, Alea said she is still able to walk and move, but the left side of her body has been affected, and may get worse before it gets better.

'Can I flip you off? No. Thumbs up? No. Or hold things? No,' she joked.

'But the good news is, where it is on my brain isn't going to affect my personality. I'm still going to be as hilarious, and have the gift of the gab.'

After surgery, doctors have warned her about potential complications, as well as the possibility of losing her hair and paralysis down the left side of her body, but they would 'have to play it by ear'.

'So, in the coming months, I might be doing videos one handed. I might disappear when I need to, but mostly, I'm going to be showing up as me every single day that I can,' she said.

Despite the devastating diagnosis, Alea told fans she feels 'genuinely so blessed' thanks to the support around her.

Alea said she is still able to walk and move, but the left side of her body has been affected, and may get worse before it gets better

She also thanked her long-time followers for sticking by her.

'To everyone who follows me and has been invested in my journey thus far, regardless, thank you so much for being here. And thank you for staying through this chapter.'

But Alea stressed the diagnosis will not define her, nor become her 'whole personality'.

'It's just another part of my story, ' she concluded in one of her clips. 

'And if it can bring some perspective, comfort, or positivity to other people out there going through it, whilst helping me get through it, that's all I could ever want.'

Home and away Wednesday 1st April Episode 8690 Promo

Wednesday 1st April Episode 8690 John grows suspicious. Brax’s grand plan stalls. Great news is afoot for Sonny.

Home and Away 8690 Episode 31st March 2026

 Wednesday 1st April Episode 8690 John grows suspicious. Brax’s grand plan stalls. Great news is afoot for Sonny.

Easenders 31 03 2026 Full Episode 31st March 2026

 Josh puts his best foot forward, Penny weighs up her options, and Vinny’s plans cause a stir.

Home and Away forced to issue statement after wild claims about the soap's cast

 "Engage only with verified accounts."

Home and Away's Australian broadcaster Seven Network has responded after a slew of fake fan pages have popped up posting wild claims about the soap's cast, such as actors dying, being diagnosed with serious illnesses, or getting secretly married.

The 'article pages' are reportedly unsafe sites designed to phish users' personal information out of them, and should not be accessed.

A spokesperson for Seven has said "these unauthorised pages have been reported" and urged fans to "engage only with verified accounts for the show and cast members" (via Daily Telegraph Australia).

Home and Away is not the first soap to warn its fans about scams, as the British soaps have have had to put out warnings about fake accounts impersonating cast members and asking people for money.

"Please be aware that actors from both Coronation Street and Emmerdale are currently being impersonated by scammers across all social media platforms," a spokesperson for ITV said last year.

No cast member will ever directly request money for messages, meetings or any kind of personal interaction on social media."

The broadcaster specifically warned fans about videos using deepfake and AI technology to impersonate the actors and offer unofficial meet and greets or tours.

A similar statement from the BBC last year similarly said: "Please note that no cast member of EastEnders employee will ever make contact to request money for meeting, messages, set visits or any other interactions.

"If you have been contacted, especially on a social media platform via direct or mass message posted to a group, please ensure you report these instances to the relevant platform immediately."

EastEnders' Penny Branning gets shocking pregnancy news in early iPlayer release

EastEnders’ Penny Branning has received game-changing news about her pregnancy, as she realises that the father of her baby is unlikely to be Vinny Panesar. As she comes to terms with this surprise revelation, Vinny is desperately searching for a way to fund his girlfriend’s future business

Penny discovered that she was pregnant in recent weeks, and she and new partner Vinny decided they wanted to become parents, though they initially faced backlash from Vinny’s mum Suki.

Last week, Vinny surprised Penny by putting down a deposit on a shop for her and resolved to fund this venture himself by reaching out to old contacts.

The pair prepared for their first baby scan in today’s episode, but Vinny told Penny that he had a meeting with a potential backer for the shop so would meet her at the hospital afterwards.

However, alarm bells rung for Priya, who immediately realised that he was planning to invest using dodgy money that is also funding the chicken shops. Priya reminded him that she and Avani were targeted by these thugs back in the day – and suggested that there was another way to get the money he needed.

Meanwhile, Oscar accompanied Penny to the hospital and agreed to wait for Vinny while she went for the scan. The sonographer told Penny that her baby was healthy, but things looked quite a bit further along than the 14 weeks she had said.

As Vinny arrived at the hospital and saw the baby for the first time, Penny was left secretly wondering whether he was actually the father.

Suki and the Brannings were excited about seeing the first scan photo in The Vic, and it looked like the two families were beginning to get along famously – but Penny was quiet and excused herself from the celebrations.

Outside the café, she was supported by Harry, who was also dealing with some unexpected news after Gina told him that she would probably never want to have kids.

That evening, Lauren and Oscar found Penny in the Square, and she opened up to her cousins about her discovery. Penny admitted that if the baby was conceived any earlier than New Year, then the dad is Harry, not Vinny.

What will Penny do about this shock pregnancy secret?

Home and away Tuesday 31st March Episode 8689 Promo

 

Tuesday 31st March Episode 8689 Casey is bitterly disappointed. John is forced to own up. Sonny struggles with intimacy

Home and Away 8689 Episode 30th March 2026

 30th March 2026 Monday (Episode 8688) Brax and Ricky face a difficult decision. Mali and Abigail have a heart-to-heart. Cash faces serious consequences.

EastEnders confirms emotional change for Nicola in premature labour storyline

 It will be a dramatic week in Walford.

EastEnders star Laura Doddington has confirmed that her character, Nicola Mitchell, will go through a change in upcoming scenes. A recent storyline has seen the fiery figure come to terms with her pregnancy, but next week will see new drama.

Nicola has been carrying a child for the past few months following her romance with George Knight, with advanced spoilers for the BBC soap confirming that the character would be rushed to hospital before prematurely giving birth to a baby girl.

Before that moment, it becomes increasingly apparent - to both viewers and her loved ones - that Nicola isn't quite herself, and Doddington explains that her character is initially nervous about the health of herself and the baby.

"She is incredibly distracted because she hasn’t felt the baby move," says the actor. "She initially keeps that to herself. With the Knight Fusion launch being an important moment for George, she wants to support him and avoids raising his worries.

Nicola is used to dealing with things on her own and doesn’t want to burden George with any additional worries. She is already dealing with loads of concerns that she wants to keep to herself, convincing herself they may not be serious."

Having experienced false labour with both Harry and Barney, part of her also believes the pains could simply be another false alarm," continues the star, who debuted as Nicola in November 2024.

These worries eventually come to the surface as Nicola prematurely gives birth, though she and George face an anxious wait after the baby is promptly relocated to an incubator to prevent the risk of infection.

"It takes a significant toll on Nicola," says Doddington. "We see a real vulnerability in her, compared to her usual combative and protective parenting style. The emotional strain and the inability to see her baby leaves her broken."

Such is the urgent nature of the storyline, both Nicola and George barely have time to work out the logistics of their co-parenting schedule, but Doddington is confident that the pair would do right by their daughter.

"I think they will make an excellent team, as they bring different energies and moral standings that complement each other," she says. "They have open and honest conversations with each other, addressing things head on rather than avoiding them."

While Nicola's stint in hospital will be the main focus of the week, the beloved character gets herself involved with Penny Branning, who is preparing to raise a child with Vinny Panesar after their bond has strengthened.

In an upcoming twist, it will be revealed that Penny is further along in her pregnancy journey than she initially thought, casting doubt on the theory that the child is Vinny's. As she jogs her memory, she realises that Harry, Nicola's son, could be the father.

Penny initially keeps her suspicions to herself and doesn't disclose anything to Vinny, and comes under fire from Suki as a result of this. Nicola sees this development, and defends Penny from Vinny's mother.

"From Nicola’s perspective, she is simply trying to speak with Penny when Suki interrupts, which infuriates her," shares Doddington. "Her opinion of Suki is already low given the recent issues involving Ravi and Harry.

"With Penny in the early stages of pregnancy, Nicola understands the anxieties that come with that experience. She also has a soft spot for Penny, who has supported Harry throughout his recent rehabilitation."

The pleasantries don't last long, however, when Nicola notices that Penny is acting peculiarly. After doing some digging, Nicola begins to suspect that Harry may be the father of the child, and blackmails Penny into taking a DNA test.

Nicola wants clarity as soon as possible on whether the baby is Harry’s," teases Doddington. "She’s incredibly protective over him and carries guilt about what he has been through.

"She also feels she has fallen short as a mother, so if the baby is his, she wants to support him from the outset. Harry has hinted that he does want children and is beginning to think seriously about his future.

"With Harry and Gina still early in their relationship, she feels it’s important to establish the truth now rather than risk a more painful revelation later, once they have invested more in their future together."

Pia Whitesell shows off her killer bikini body during a beach day with her multimillionaire husband Patrick

 Pia Whitesell showcased her sensational figure during a sun-soaked beach day in Malibu with husband Patrick Whitesell.

The former Home and Away star, 42, took to Instagram to share a series of snaps, appearing completely at ease as she soaked up the coastal views.

In one striking image, Pia looked radiant as she sipped on a cool, refreshing drink, all while flaunting her toned bikini body, while another captured Patrick having a well-earned break by smoking a cigar.

The model stunned in the barely-there swimwear, highlighting her trim physique and sun-kissed glow as she posed effortlessly by the shoreline.

Elsewhere, Pia was seen enjoying a playful moment on the sand with her multimillionaire husband Patrick, 61.

The Hollywood powerbroker flaunted his muscular frame as he went shirtless in a pair of casual shorts.

The model stunned in the barely-there swimwear, highlighting her trim physique and sun-kissed glow as she posed effortlessly by the shoreline 

Pia Whitesell set pulses racing on Monday as she showcased her sensational figure during a sun-soaked beach day in Malibu with husband Patrick Whitesell 

The loved-up couple appeared completely relaxed as they strolled along the beach together, soaking in the idyllic setting.

Pia resides in a lavish $57million Los Angeles mansion with Patrick.

She is known to travel between America and Australia, having recently been spotted in Sydney. 

Her career skyrocketed in 2014 when she landed the role of Kat Chapman on Home and Away.

She went public with her relationship with Patrick in late 2019, before the pair secretly tied the knot in 2021. 

Patrick is the executive chairman of William Morris Endeavor and is considered one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood, with clients including Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, and Ben Affleck.

He was previously married to journalist Lauren Sánchez, who is now wed to Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos.

Patrick shares two children – son Evan, 19, and daughter Ella, 17 – with Lauren, while Pia has sons Isaiah, 22, and Lennox, 19, from two previous relationships.

One striking image captured Patrick taking a well-earned break with a cigar

'For me, it's honestly the best, most heartwarming thing to see the blending of four teenagers who were strangers just a few years ago,' she told Marie Claire Australia.

'We sit around the table every night, enjoying each other's company, having a laugh as we share our stories. We spent Thanksgiving together; how lucky are we to have all found each other?'

Pia also admitted she leans on her family during times of hardship, such as when they lost a house during last year's California wildfires.