The father of a brave young Australian boy who tragically lost his battle with cancer has exposed ruthless fraudsters who are trying to profit from his death.
Levi Tracy, 19, passed away at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth last week after a two-year battle with acute myeloid leukaemia.
The disease is caused by an abnormal growth of white blood cells that creates tumors in the body. The condition prevents the immune system from fighting germs and infections.
Levi’s battle with cancer captured the hearts of many Australians who followed his story in recent years.
But now his father, Mark, has revealed that scammers have allegedly taken advantage of his son’s recent death,
He is devastated that alleged online scammers have used his son’s name and photo in an attempt to secure donations from his followers.
“It’s in very poor taste, actually,” Tracy said. PerthNow.
‘I’m trying to be civil without losing my mind.’
Levi Tracy (pictured) lost his courageous fight against acute myeloid leukemia last week
Administrators of the Facebook group Lifeline for Levi, which has 4,000 members, said it was “a very sad day when someone takes advantage of the death of a child.”
They said the scammers approached members and asked for “any contribution, big or small.”
“I am writing to you to ask for your support in a difficult time,” said one fraudulent message.
‘Recently our beloved Levi passed away leaving behind a family who needed our help.’
‘To help them through this difficult time, I am seeking donations to cover funeral expenses and provide financial support.’
An official GoFundMe The page set up on behalf of the family by family friend Deb Butler has so far raised more than $22,500.
Levi’s father Mark has revealed that scammers have allegedly taken advantage of his son’s recent death, attempting to get donations from fans.
They claimed that scammers approached members and asked them for “any contribution, big or small” (pictured: a supposedly fraudulent page)
Mr Tracy said Go Fund Me was the only official channel for donations.
“We are very honored and grateful for all the support we have received, (but) we have never asked for a donation,” he said.
‘Feel free to donate if that’s what you want to do…we appreciate everything that comes our way, but we’ve never asked for it.’
The devastated father also urged Australians to donate blood if they could, to help those in a similar situation to Levi.
“Levi was receiving multiple (blood) products a day, but towards the end it was pretty hectic,” she said.
There were two days in particular where I had eight or nine bags of different products, and that has to come from somewhere.
“And Levi is just one of many people who are going through that kind of situation, (so) we just need everyone who can… to take the time to help someone else, to save a loved one, because we understand firsthand how important that is.”
Levi (pictured), who lived in Perth, was first diagnosed with cancer when he was just seven years old, before being diagnosed with the disease again ten years later.
The family of the 19-year-old (pictured left) was trying to find a blood stem cell match so he could receive a life-saving bone marrow transplant.
Mr Tracy broke the news of his son’s death on Tuesday of last week.
“This day was never meant to come,” he wrote.
“We are devastated beyond compare. We have no idea how to move on and keep going, but we will find a way. Levi would want that.”
‘He fought a great battle and never gave up, the mountain was too big.’
Mr Tracy said doctors had struggled to stabilise him in the early hours of Monday morning before the family visited him later that day.
Levi, who lived in Perth, was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma when he was just seven years old.
After enduring several rounds of chemotherapy for two and a half years, she was finally in remission before her 10th birthday.
But Levi, who had secured a job as a FIFO worker before being admitted to hospital, was dealt a major blow when he was diagnosed with cancer for the second time at the age of 17.
His family had been trying to find a blood stem cell match so Levi could receive a life-saving bone marrow transplant.
The procedure allows a person who does not produce enough healthy blood cells to receive protein from a healthy person who can provide the essential fluid.
Friends and loved ones constantly provided updates on Levi’s condition on social media.
Levi’s funeral will be held this Friday (July 12) at a time and location yet to be confirmed.