The new community relations coordinator for the Upper Hunter lost her mum to the disease three days after her 59th birthday.   

Now, the woman who is taking over from Glen Parsons, is determined to play a major role in the eradication of cancer. 

“My beautiful mother, my best friend, was officially diagnosed with lung cancer in February 2014, after four months of misdiagnosis by her doctor,” Pausha explained.

“This news was the beginning of a very difficult journey.

“I moved back to Perth for seven months to care for her.

“Sparing the many bumps along the way, it got to a point where treatment was becoming the norm, and mum told me to go back to Newcastle to spend some time with my partner. 

“I spoke to my mum every day – which was normal, as that was how close we were, and have always been.

“But there came a time where all that stopped – mum was admitted to 

hospital, she was going downhill and the radiation burnt her so bad that she was in too much pain to even whisper.

“It was heart-wrenching. 

“Following the oncologists orders, I rushed home to be with her – and so thankful I did. 

“After a few days of being there, mum had more than 20 seizures in one 

sitting, which is when the doctors told us the cancer had more than likely spread to her brain.

“I was there for two weeks, with a week spent at the hospital, sleeping shifts in a back room to be close to mum.

“A few days after her 59th birthday, she passed away, with my sister, my stepdad, myself and my partner by her side.

“My world will never be the same. 

“What followed, however, is a deep-seated drive to help beat cancer.

“I want to see the world free of cancer, so no-one ever has to go through what my mum went through, and what so many other people are fighting through today.”

Pausha believes she is a perfect position to achieve that goal.

“As you can imagine, when I learnt about being accepted as the community relations coordinator for the Cancer Council - Upper Hunter, I danced around like a crazy person – I was so overjoyed,” she told The Argus.

“The role meant I could use my event experience and creative skills, be part of an organisation I was extremely passionate about, and use my mum as inspiration every day – to raise funds to support those who are going through the cancer journey and to help beat this ugly disease for good. 

“I am so excited about being part of this organisation, and this community.

“I already see support options here I wish we had, or had been told about, when our family was going through one of the most difficult times of our lives.

“I look forward to this exciting stage in my life up here in Singleton.

“My door is always open; if I can help with anything at all in the Upper Hunter community.”