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11 · Wednesday, August 11, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com It's great to give, just do it with care By Tim Whitnell METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Former friends and acquaintances of Ashley Kirilow, and many strangers, some of whom donated money to her or her cancerbased charity, are outraged by the revelation by Kirilow that she faked having multiple cancers and told people she was going to die. Dozens of people have posted comments, many strongly worded, in reaction to an Aug. 6 Toronto Star story. In the article, Kirilow, a 23-year-old Burlington resident, admits to pretending to have breast, ovarian, liver, brain and stomach cancer at various stages and also shaving her head and eyebrows, plucking her eyelashes and starving herself to appear like a chemotherapy patient. She says in the story that she accepted several thousands of donated dollars, for herself and also for Change for a Cure, the charity she claims on her Facebook page that she founded in October 2009, "...one very late night while I was sick in bed after my 'Chemo Day'..." Kirilow's mother, Cindy Edwards of Brantford, said Friday, "We're pretty much just ashamed with what's happened. We're pretty ashamed, pretty embarrassed, and upset with the fact how many people have been hurt. "We have no idea where she is and she has no contact with us," Edwards said. The Star story evoked responses from many people as evidenced by the many postings on Kirilow's Change for a Cure Facebook page. Cancer support organizations have also been asked to weigh in on the issue. The executive director of Breast Cancer Support Services, a Halton organization that offers free personal support and other resources to breast cancer patients, said Kirilow came into its Burlington office last year seeking financial assistance. "She did drop by and she asked for money for her medication, but we don't do that," said Blair Lancaster, a 15-year member of Breast Cancer Support Services and also a past president. "It wasn't that I thought she was insincere about her cancer. She looked believable. You had this beautiful young lady who appeared extremely ill. It wasn't my place to judge her. If we were giving her money, I would have looked a lot more closely at it." It is Breast Cancer Support Services' policy, Lancaster said, not to give clients money, but direct them to support services it offers. Lancaster doesn't expect a backlash by donors to charitable groups because of the Kirilow story. "Any charity you are supporting you need to check it out." People need to ask questions of those soliciting donations for any charity, she said. "Fraud happens and we all have to do due diligence and make sure where we are giving our money is going to the types of service and programs we want to support. I think that's a responsibility that we need to have as donors." The Canadian Cancer Society issued a reminder to the public about ways people can check on the status of organizations to which they donate. The society recommends the public check for a charitable organization's Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) registered charity number and confirm the status of the charity's registered number through the CRA's charities listings page at www.cra-arc.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-267-2384. The society says allegations of charity fraud can be submitted to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre PhoneBusters by calling 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.phonebusters.com. SEIZED ON BEHALF OF CANADA REVENUE AGENCY WEALTH INVESTMENT, IMPORTED JEWELLERY. 1 - 5CT DIAMOND RINGS, BRACELETS, NECKLACES, RUBIES, EMERALDS, SAPPHIRES, PEARLS OVER 100 LOTS OF PRECIOUS GEMS & JEWELLERY PUBLIC AUCTION CORPORATE CONTRACTS OVER 200 LOTS OF FINE JEWELLERY FROM OTHER CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED DIAMONDS MANY OTHER FINE SW GOLD & DIAMOND JEW WINNING BIDDER ADVANCES TO NATIONAL AUCTION. VISA, M/C, INTERAC, CERTIFIED CHEQUE, CASH, 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM AND APPLICABLE SALES TAXES IN EFFECT. VALID PHOTO I.D. REQUIRED PRIOR TO ENTRY. SOME RESERVES, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS MAY APPLY. INDEPENDENTLY CONTRACTED & LICENSED AUCTIONEERS, ASSET ©2010 ASSET AUCTIONS INC. AUCTIONS INC. 905-803-0555. GLEN ABBEY GOLF CLUB, 1333 DORVAL DR. SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH. VIEWING 1PM AUCTION 2PM