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, 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.

'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.'

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.

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.'