Fraudulent: Jessica Mydek

[Michael Silverton]

For the benefit of compassionate readers:


http://www.cancer.org/chain.html

                     Fraudulent Chain Letter

    This statement may be copied or reprinted by online users

The American Cancer Society is greatly disturbed by reports of a fraudulent
chain letter circulating
on the internet which lists the American Cancer Society as a "corporate
sponsor" but which has in no
way been endorsed by the American Cancer Society. This letter appears to
have started on
America Online but has now spread well beyond the online service. There are
several variations of
this letter in circulation, including one which has a picture of "Tickle Me
Elmo" and one that is
essentially a paraphrase of the letter below. 

The text of the original message reads as follows:

LITTLE JESSICA MYDEK IS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND IS SUFFERING FROM AN
ACUTE AND VERY RARE CASE OF CEREBRAL CARCINOMA. THIS CONDITION
CAUSES SEVERE MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMORS AND IS A TERMINAL ILLNESS. THE
DOCTORS HAVE GIVEN HER SIX MONTHS TO LIVE. 

AS PART OF HER DYING WISH, SHE WANTED TO START A CHAIN LETTER TO
INFORM PEOPLE OF THIS CONDITION AND TO SEND PEOPLE THE MESSAGE TO
LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, A CHANCE THAT SHE
WILL NEVER HAVE. FURTHERMORE, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND
SEVERAL CORPORATE SPONSORS HAVE AGREED TO DONATE THREE CENTS
TOWARD CONTINUING CANCER RESEARCH FOR EVERY NEW PERSON THAT
GETS FORWARDED THIS MESSAGE. PLEASE GIVE JESSICA AND ALL CANCER
VICTIMS A CHANCE.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, SEND THEM TO THE AMERICAN CANCER
SOCIETY AT ACS at AOL.COM 

As far as the American Cancer Society can determine, the story of Jessica
Mydek is completely
unsubstantiated. No fundraising efforts are being made by the American
Cancer Society
using chain letters of any kind. Furthermore, the email address ACS at AOL.COM
is inactive.
Any messages to the American Cancer Society should be instead sent through
the American Cancer
Society website at http://www.cancer.org. 

This particular chain letter with its heartbreaking story appears to have
struck an emotional chord
with online users. Although we are very concerned that the American Cancer
Society's name has
been used to manipulate the online public, we applaud the good intentions
of all who participated in
this letter. We are pleased to note that there are so many caring
individuals out there and hope that
they will find another way to support cancer research. Jessica Mydek's
story, whether true or false,
is representative of that of many cancer patients who benefit daily from
the efforts of legitimate
cancer organizations nationwide.
Sincerely,

Michael Silverton