Netlore Archive: Email hoax claims 23-year-old Matt Dawson is suffering from lung cancer and a brain tumor, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation will donate 7 cents toward paying his medical bills every time the message is forwarded or reposted
Description: Email hoax
Circulating since: August 2006
Status: False
Email example contributed by Sprite K., 13 August 2006:
read meIf you don't believe it, call the number. Everyone needs to take the time and read this. Just take a break from all your other stupid bulletins about who is gonna die or if your love life will suck for 7 years and be serious and do the right thing. Repost this or you have no soul seriously. A kid needs our help so do the right thing.
Hi, my name is Matt Dawson. I am 23 years old, and I have a large tumor on my brain and severe lung cancer. The doctors say I will die soon if this isn't fixed, and my family can't pay the bills. "The Make A Wish Foundation" has agreed to donate 7 cents for every time this message is reposted. For those of you who repost, I thank you so much. But for those who don't repost it, I will still pray for you. Please, if you are a kind person, have a heart. Please, please, PLEASE REPOST THIS MESSAGE AS "READ PLEASE"!
Matt Dawson
602-999-7996 HomePlease feel free to call me for anything.
*hey it wont cost you but 10 seconds of your time
Comments: False. This is a copycat hoax based on previous examples of "help a dying kid" chain letters, e.g. Amy Bruce, Kayla Wightman, Jessica Mydek, Timothy Flyte, et al.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, which as a matter of policy does not participate in chain letter ventures of any kind, lists "Matt Dawson" among the names used in online hoaxes citing the organization's name under false pretenses.
At last report, the phone number listed in the message was disconnected.
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Sources and further reading:
Make-A-Wish Foundation Statement on Chain Letters
Make-A-Wish Foundation WebsiteSick, Dying, and Missing Kids
About.com Netlore Archive
Last updated: 07/06/07
