After Ms Holden was diagnosed with a rare pineal cystic tumour in January of this year, she was told the surgery at the Prince of Wales Private Hospital would cost a grand total of $100,000.

Since then, the Lake Macquarie community has embraced her, and her plight, and she now finds herself within touching distance of the target before the payment due date at the end of September.

It’s been an “amazing” and “heart-warming” response from everyone in the local community, Ms Holden said, and one that “shocked” her in the most positive of ways.

Now she has one final event on the horizon, as she prepares to host a charity fundraiser at the Toronto Workers Club with aims to cross the line a week out from payment date.

“The response from everyone in the area has just been absolutely amazing, and I never imagined that we’d be this close thanks to all the heart-warming gestures from everyone in the community,” she said.

“It’s really been overwhelming how much everyone has reached out and embraced me through all of this, it’s really made me feel so loved.

“Now, after this whole year, we will know if we have raised enough money come Sunday morning after this Toronto event. We’re at the end of the tunnel now and I’ll know very soon what is going to happen next.”

No matter what does happen, Ms Holden said, she wanted to thank everyone that had stepped forward.

“Thank you to everyone that has been there on the road with me, there’s too many people to thank and not enough ways to do it, but thank you,” she said.

The fundraising night in Toronto is set for September 15, with tickets – which include drinks, food platters and live music – costing $50.

The event will also have raffle items, including signed Jeff Horn boxing clubs, and signed Manly Sea Eagles, Queensland State of Origin and John Aloisi jerseys.

Tickets are available to pre-purchase by calling Sarah on 0413726281. Tickets can also be purchased at the Toronto Workers Club and Steel City Vapor, Glendale.

Ms Holden is also accepting donations on her GoFundMe page: gofundme.com/sarah039s-fight-for-life.