Fraudsters have been accused of taking money from cancer patients after they targeted a Dundee sick children’s charity.
Charlie Kean was furious to discover that the Kean’s Children’s Fund logo had been used to collect cash that never made its way to the charity.
He says the actions of those behind the move are delaying the launch of a new bus that will benefit hundreds of local cancer sufferers.
”I’ve heard three times in the last few days about people apparently collecting for the charity, and I didn’t know anything about it,” he said. ”These people have used the charity logo, and I haven’t given anyone permission to do that and no money has come back to us, which really bugs me.
”We’re trying to do this out of the goodness of our hearts and it really bothers me to think that someone is using our logo. It tarnishes the name of the charity, and it just feels like a real kick in the teeth.”
Charlie, who was named Dundee’s Citizen of the Year 2012 for his charity work, is raising funds for a minibus that will serve local organisations, including Maggie’s Cancer Centre and Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia.
He added: ”I suppose every charity will get it, people trying to use them to make money. All they’re doing is taking money from cancer sufferers, children and adults who have cancer.
”It hurts me to think that someone is out there trying to do this, but it’s really affecting the people in the wards it’s money that’s not coming to the kids.”
Father-of-two Charlie, who has raised more than £250,000 for sick children over the last decade, revealed how to spot the difference between real collectors and fraudsters.
”All of our collection boxes are proper charity boxes with seals on them, and we give out certificates to our collectors,” he said. ”Most of the forms we give out are on proper headed notepaper it’s not just a print-off.
”If anyone does want to raise funds for the charity, they just need to be up front and tell us about it.”
There is more information at www.keanschildrensfund.com