$25k raised in 24 hours for 21-year-old Bendigo woman after cancer diagnosis

A Bendigo mother is thanking God after the community raised more than $25,000 in less than 24 hours for her daughter who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer.

Mauosamoa Epati with her father Leki Epati.

A Bendigo mother is thanking god after the community raised more than $25,000 in less than 24 hours for her 21-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer.

Mauosamoa Epati was diagnosed with cancer just a week before Christmas when she presented to the emergency department with “excruciating” stomach pains after vomiting at work.

Bendigo woman Mauosamoa Epati was diagnosed with cancer just a week before Christmas, 2023. Pictured left to right: Mother Nancy Epati, older sister Naomi Epati and Mauosamoa Epati.

After a CAT scan, doctors found a 10cm tumour in her abdomen that was causing excessive amounts of fluid, impacting her organs and causing severe breathing difficulties.

Mau’s mother Nancy Epati was devastated. A deeply religious woman, she brought her family and friends together and prayed for strength to fight for her daughter’s life.

Mau comes from a “big loving family”, one of seven siblings.

She is deeply involved with her church and works full-time at a local Bendigo pharmacy and is beloved in the community.

Mau’s family praying over her in hospital.

Mau’s family supporting her during a hospital transfer to Melbourne.

After three “harrowing” weeks of “painful” and “invasive” tests, doctors diagnosed Mau’s tumour as Ewing Sarcoma on January 2, an aggressive and rare cancer ... but a treatable one.

With most of Mau’s family in New Zealand, the Bendigo family now faces the hardship of not being able to support themselves, as Ms Epati — the main breadwinner — takes time off work to support her daughter making regular 150km trips to Melbourne for “rigorous” chemotherapy.

Unable to support Mau in person, Ms Epati’s sister, Mabel Brown set up a GoFundMe from New Zealand to support her niece.

It has since seen $25,000 donated in less than 24 hours.

Ms Epati, never one to take a handout, said the generosity of the community “knocked me over”, thanking god for the miracle.

“Our faith is in god – this is god is all we can say,” she said.

Mau started her Chemo on Friday, January 5 and is “really nervous” about losing her hair, but her family is supporting her through the “intimidating” healing journey.