Miss pretends to have cancer and raises almost 100 thousand reais

Life seemed to go well for young Brandi Lee Weaver-Gates: at 21 she was a student at Pennsylvania State University and had won several beauty pageants representing her state.

However, in 2013, the young woman told a story that shocked her friends and family: she had chronic lymphoid leukemia, a cancer whose survival rate does not reach 35%.

In an interview with the Center Daily Times, she said that as soon as she was diagnosed, she didn't know how to reveal it to her family and that even when they found out she still had to fight on her own, since no one was "in her skin" .

However, what was to be kept secret soon gained media and social networks through her own publications. Through her Facebook, she fed the subject by posting details about the disease and her health, as in this post: "I can't believe it's been a week since I found out I'm in remission again !!! #byebyecancer # kickitsbutt #KICKEDitsbutt "

She added a sad chapter to her novel: She told fans that cancer had resurfaced.

But shortly thereafter, on April 12, 2014, she added a sad chapter to her soap opera: She told fans that cancer had reemerged. With the case gaining more and more space, Brandi attended several charity events and was chosen as the representative of the "National Society of Minorities".

For two years, the girl's sister took her to hospitals and waited for up to 8 hours while she was supposedly receiving cancer treatment. People saw her lose her hair and ride in wheelchairs.

Concerned about Brandi's health, friends and fans began a major campaign to raise funds for former Miss Pennsylvania. Everyone wanted to help in some way, and during a rush to raise money, a friend carried her on her lap to the finish line as she would be weakened.

In 2015, she was again crowned Miss Pennsylvania and received much praise for becoming a beauty queen during the fight against cancer.

Every mask one day falls

After a major bingo on March 28, 2015 that raised no less than $ 45, 000, the Brandi scam was discovered.

It is surprising how she managed to keep the false illness so long, but something always gets out of control: people began to notice that her hair grew rapidly after she shaved it. In addition, she never allowed anyone to accompany her during the treatments.

Small details made the police receive an anonymous report about the case.

Brandi lost her crown and was summoned to return all the money raised so far: almost $ 100, 000!

When investigating the hospitals in which she said she was being treated, it was not difficult to find out that she was never actually in those corridors. Brandi lost her crown and was summoned to return all the money raised so far: almost $ 100, 000!

Stacy Parks Miller, a volunteer in the false case of the disease, said: "Many people are affected by cancer, and when someone takes advantage of the disease to make money, calculated and elaborate, is incomprehensible. She stole time and money from people. who really suffer from cancer and those who wanted to help. I just hope this incident from a selfish person doesn't diminish the community's infinite ability to help those in need. "

Accused of theft by mistake and receiving stolen goods, Brandi will face a preliminary hearing on August 19.