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NAME:	Cancer chain letter
ALIAS:	Save Little Girl chain letter

This is a widespread chain letter, which asks people to send e-mail messages to benefit a cancer patient. There are several different versions of this chain letter, some of them mention specific patients. These messages are hoaxes and they are not endorsed by any cancer organisation. Do not pass them on. The ACS@AOL.COM address does not exist.

Please note that some of the letters that are circulating are actually true cases. These can usually distinguished from the fact that they don't make any extraordinary claims about email tracking, and money being given per each copy forwarded. If you are unsure whether the email you have received is a hoax or not, do not forward it as it most probably is a hoax.

Here is an example of this chain letter:

  Please forward this message to EVERYONE  you know. The American
  Cancer Society gets 3 cents every time this message is
  forwarded. Please make sure that you cc: American Cancer
  Society...(ACS@AOL.COM)

And here is another version:

  Subject: This is not a chain! It could save a little girls
  life!

  o.k. you guys..... this isn't a chain letter, but a choice for
  all of us to save a little girl that's dieing of a serious and
  fatal form of cancer. please send this to everyone you
  know...or don't know at that.  this little girl has 6 months
  left to live her life, and as her dieing wish, she wanted to
  send a chain letter telling everyone to live their life to
  fullest, since she never will.  she'll never make it to prom,
  graduate from high school, of get married and have a family of
  her own.  but by you sending this to as many people as
  possible, you can give her and her family a little hope,
  because with every name that this is semnt to, the american
  cancer society will donate 3 cents per name to her treatment
  and recovery plan. one guy sent this th 500 people !!!!  so, i
  know that we can send it to at least 5 or 6. come on you
  guys.... and if you're too damn selfish to waste 10-15 minutes
  and scrolling this and forwarding it to EVERYONE, than one:
  you're one sick bastard, and two: just think it could be you
  one day....and it's not even your $money$, just your time.  i
  know that ya'll will impress me !!!!  i love ya'll !!!!! peace-

  Sarah  "X"

And yet another version:

  Please forward this message to EVERYONE  you know. The American
  Cancer Society gets 3 cents every time this message is
  forwarded. Please make sure that you cc: American Cancer
  Society...(ACS@AOL.COM)

And one more version:

  LITTLE JESSICA MYDEK IS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND IS SUFFERING FROM
  AN ACUTE AND VERY RARE CASE OF CEREBRAL CARCINOMA. THIS
  CONDITION CAUSES SEVERE MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMORS AND IS A
  TERMINAL ILLNESS. THE DOCTORS HAVE GIVEN HER SIX MONTHS TO
  LIVE.

  AS PART OF HER DYING WISH, SHE WANTED TO START A CHAIN LETTER
  TO INFORM PEOPLE OF THIS CONDITION AND TO SEND PEOPLE THE
  MESSAGE TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, A
  CHANCE THAT SHE WILL NEVER HAVE. FURTHERMORE, THE AMERICAN
  CANCER SOCIETY AND SEVERAL CORPORATE SPONSORS HAVE AGREED TO
  DONATE THREE CENTS TOWARD CONTINUING CANCER RESEARCH FOR EVERY
  NEW PERSON THAT GETS FORWARDED THIS MESSAGE. PLEASE GIVE
  JESSICA AND ALL CANCER VICTIMS A CHANCE. IF THERE ARE ANY
  QUESTIONS, SEND THEM TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AT
  ACS@AOL.COM

Another version:

 This was forwarded to me by a friend.  I hope Amanda can be
 added to your payer list.
 *******************************

 Prayers needed for Amanda Bundy, and her parents. Everyone with
 large mailing lists, please forward.  I am writing to you now to
 ask for your help.

 I do not really know how to start a prayer chain, but we need a
 miracle.

 Amanda Bundy is a 6-year-old girl in Greensburg, Pennsylvania,
 the daughter of some very close friends of ours.  A few weeks
 ago her mother was giving her a hug and felt a lump on Amanda's
 back.  An X-ray showed it to be some sort of growth, and later
 tests discovered that is a massive malignant tumor that has
 spread to all parts of her chest and abdomen.  There are no
 organs that are untouched and she has more tumor in her body
 than she has organs.

 As I write this, she is hospitalized after a biopsy of the
 tumor, and her parents are waiting for the results of a bone
 marrow test.  If her bone marrow is clean, then they have a
 chance to save her with chemotherapy.  If they find cancerous
 cells in her bone marrow, then the only hope to save her life is
 a miracle.

 She is in no pain yet and appears to be a perfectly healthy,
 beautiful little red-haired girl.  She doesn't even know she is
 sick yet and can't understand why she has to go to the doctor so
 often if she's not sick.

 I am asking for your prayers on her behalf. Please pray for her
 healing and for strength and comfort for her family.  She is
 only six years old. Think of a six year old in your life and
 imagine that life being cut short.  You can only imagine a
 fraction of the pain and fear her parents are facing. They need
 a miracle of God's healing so that they can watch their precious
 firstborn grow up.

 Normally I hate email chain letters but now I am asking you to
 send this letter, or copies of it, to everybody you can think of
 that will pray for Amanda.  Please ask others to pray for her
 healing.

 Many thanks and may God bless each one of you who cares enough
 to pray for a little girl's life.  I am asking that each and
 every one of you please forward this on to everyone that you
 know.  Just think if this was your little child going thru this
 right now.

 We all know that God can heal this little angel if it is His
 will. Please take time to do this right now.

Another version:

 Just read the poem - it's beautiful!!

 BE SURE YOU READ THE END OF THIS MESSAGE

 S L O W D A N C E:

 Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round
 Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

 Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight
 Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

 You better slow down Don't dance so fast
 Time is short The music won't last

 Do you run through each day on the fly
 When you ask "How are you?" do you hear the reply?

 When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
 With the next hundred chores running through your head?

 You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast
 Time is short The music won't last

 Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow
 And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

 Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die
 'Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?

 You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast
 Time is short The music won't last

 When you run so fast to get somewhere
 You miss half the fun of getting there.

 When you worry and hurry through your day,
 It is like an unopened gift.... Thrown away..

 Life is not a race. Do take it slower
 Hear the music Before the song is over.

 PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO HELP THIS LITTLE GIRL

 Dear All,

 I just received this mail from a friend of mine in my College.
 Please respond to it. It will mean employing a little bit of
 time and won't cost you a penny. All it needs is the heart for
 you to send this mail. PLEASE pass this mail on to everybody you
 know. It is the request of a little girl who will soon leave
 this world as she has been a victim of the terrible disease
 called CANCER.

 Thank you for your effort, this isn't a chain letter,but a
 choice for all of us to save a little girl that's dying of a
 serious and fatal form of cancer.

 Please send this to everyone you know...or don't know. This
 little girl has 6 months left to live, and her dying wish, she
 wanted to send a letter telling everyone to live their life to
 the fullest, since she never will. She'll never make it to the
 prom, graduate from high school, or get married and have a
 family of her own.

 By you sending this to as many people as possible, you can give
 her and her family a little hope, because with every name that
 this is sent to, The American Cancer Society will donate 3 cents
 per name to her treatment and recovery plan. One guy sent this
 to 500 people!!!!

 So,I know that we can send it to at least 5 or 6. Come on you
 guys.... and if you're too selfish to take 10-15 minutes
 scrolling this and forwarding it to EVERYONE, then you are one
 sick person.

 Just think it could be you one day. It's not even your money,
 just your time!!!

 PLEASE PASS ON

 Dr. Dennis Shields
 Professor
 Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology
 Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
 1300 Morris Park Avenue
 Bronx, New York 10461
 Phone 718-430-3306

A new version appeared in October 1999:

 Subject: For the little girl! :( This is sad and if you don't
 send youare Rude)

 Hi, my name is Amy Bruce.I am 7 years old, and I have severe
 lung cancer from second hand smoke. I also have a large tumor in
 my brain, from repeated beatings 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 name
 on this list. For those of you who send this along, I thank you
 so much, but for those who don't send it, what goes around comes
 around.  Have a Heart, please send this.

Another version appeared in 2000:

 PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS MESSAGE...(surprise ending)

 Have you ever-watched kids on a merry-go-round,
 or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
 Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,
 or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
 You better slow down,
 don't dance so fast,
 time is short,
 the music won't last.

 Do you run through each day on the fly?
 When you ask, "How are you?"
 Do you hear the reply?

 When the day is done,
 do you lie in your bed,
 with the next hundred chores,
 running through your head?

 You'd better slow down,
 don't dance so fast,
 time is short,
 the music won't last.

 Ever told your child,
 we'll do it tomorrow,
 and in your haste,
 not see his sorrow?
 Ever lost touch,
 let a good friendship die,
 'cause you never had time,
 to call and say "Hi"?

 You'd better slow down,
 don't dance so fast,
 time is short,
 the music won't last.

 When you run so fast to get somewhere,
 you miss half the fun of getting there.
 When you worry and hurry through your day,
 It is like an unopened gift...thrown away...

 Life is not a race,
 Do take it slower.
 Hear the music,
 before the song is over.

 Please forward this to help a little girl who is dying from
 cancer and has 6 months left to live. As her dying, wish, she
 wanted to send a letter telling everyone to live their life to
 the fullest, since she never will.

 She'll never make it to prom, graduate from high school, or get
 married and have a family of her own.

 By you sending this to as many people as possible, you can  give
 her and her family a little hope, because with every name that
 this is sent to, The American Cancer Society will donate 3 cents
 per name to her treatment and recovery plan.

 One guy sent this to 500 people!!! So, I know that we can send
 it to at least 5 or 6. Come on you guys...and if you're too
 selfish to take 10-15 minutes scrolling this and forwarding it
 to EVERYONE. Just think it could be you one day.  It's not even
 your money, just your time!!!

 Carol A. Hathorne, Principal
 Sugg Middle School, Rt. 196

There are some different language versions of the above hoaxes. In November, 1999, a French version appeared.

The below version appeared in autumn, 2000:

 POEM OF LIFE

 Please read all of this, and the closing statement after the
 poem...... This is a sweet but sad little message.

 Slow Dance

 Have you ever watched kids
 On a merry-go-round?
 Or listened to the rain
 Slapping on the ground?
 Ever followed a butterfly's
 erratic flight?
 Or gazed at the sun into the
 fading night?
 You better slow down.
 Don't dance so fast.
 Time is short.
 The music won't last.
 Do you run through each day
 On the fly?
 When you ask "How are you?"
 Do you hear the reply?
 When the day is done
 Do you lie in your bed
 With the next hundred chores
 Running through your head?
 You'd better slow down.
 Don't dance so fast.
 Time is short.
 The music won't last.
 Ever told your child,
 We'll do it tomorrow?
 And in your haste,
 Not see his sorrow?
 Ever lost touch,
 Let a good friendship die
 Cause you never had time
 To call and say "Hi"?
 You'd better slow down.
 Don't dance so fast.
 Time is short.
 The music won't last.
 When you run so fast to get somewhere
 You miss half the fun of getting there.
 When you worry and hurry through your day,
 It is like an unopened gift....
 Thrown away.
 Life is not a race.
 Do take it slower
 Hear the music
 Before the song is over.

 PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO HELP THIS LITTLE GIRL  ALL FORWARDED
 E-MAILS ARE  TRACKED TO  OBTAIN THE TOTAL COUNT.

 Dear All,

 PLEASE pass this mail on to everybody you know. It is the
 request of a special little  girl who will soon leave this world
 as she has cancer.

 Thank you for your effort, this isn't a chain letter, but a
 choice for all of us to save a little girl that's dying of a
 serious and fatal form of cancer. Please send this to everyone
 you know... or don't  know.

 This little girl has 6 months left to live, and as her dying
 wish, she wanted  to send a letter telling everyone to live
 their life to the fullest, since she never will. She'll never
 make it to prom, graduate from high school, or get married and
 have a family of her own.

 By you sending this to as many people as possible, you can give
 her and her family a little hope, because with every name that
 this is  sent to, The American Cancer Society will donate 3
 cents per name to her treatment and recovery plan. One guy sent
 his to 500 people!!!! So, I know that we can send it to at least
 5 or 6. Just think it could be you one day. It's not even your
 money, just your time!!! "PLEASE PASS ON AS A LAST REQUEST "

 Dr. Dennis Shields, Professor
 Department of Developmental and
 Molecular Biology

 Albert Einstein College of
 Medicine of Yeshiva University

The below listed version was widespread during spring 2001:

 TO MY CHILD:

 Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face
 and laugh when I feel like crying. Just for this morning, I will
 let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how
 perfect it is. Just for this morning, I am going to step over
 the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
 Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and
 let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

 Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep
 the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow
 bubbles. Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even
 a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream
 truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

 Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going
 to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have
 made where you are concerned. Just for this afternoon, I will
 let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying
 to fix them. Just for this afternoon, I will take us to
 McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both
 toys.

 Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a
 story about how you were born and how much I love you. Just for
 this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get
 angry. Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while
 we sit on the porch and count all the stars. Just for this
 evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my
 favorite TV shows.

 Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as
 you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the
 greatest gift ever given. I will think about the mothers and
 fathers who are searching for their missing children, the
 mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves
 instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in
 hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and
 screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

 And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter,
 a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and
 ask him for nothing, except one more day.............

 Hi I am a 29 year old father. Me and my wife have had a
 wonderful life together. God blessed us with a child too. Our
 daughters name is Rachel and she is 10 years old. Not long ago
 did the doctors detect brain cancer in her little body. There is
 only one way to save her and that is an operation. Sadly we
 don't have the money for the operation.

 AOL and Zdnet (in Zimbabwe) have agreed to help us. The only way
 they can help is this: If you send this email to other people
 AOL will track this email and count how many people get it.
 Every person that opens this email and sends it to at least 3
 people will give us 32c. (in Zimbabwe dollars)

 Please help us.

The below listed version appeared during autumn 2001:

 Subject: Leukaemia - Please read then Forward
 If you delete this you seriously don't have a heart.

 Hi,
 I am a 29 year old father. Me and my wife have had a
 wonderful life together. God blessed us with a child too.
 Our daughters name is Rachel, and she is 10 years old.
 Not long ago the doctors detected brain cancer and in her little
 body. There is only one way to save her...an operation. Sadly, we
 don't have enough money to pay the price.
 AOL and ZDNET have agreed to help us. The only way they can
 help us is this way, I send this email to you
 and you send it to other people. AOL will track this email
 and count how many people get it.
 Every person who opens this email and sends it to at least 3
 people will give us 32 cents.

 Please help us.

This Dutch version started spreading on beginning of 2002

  Subject: Fw: Fw: Wie een hart heeft stuurt dit door!!!!

  Onze zoon John is 4 jaar oud.  Toen John geboren werd klapte zijn long
  vrijwel meteen in.  Dagenlang heeft hij in het ziekenhuis aan de hart-
  en longbewaking gebleven.  De problemen zetten zich voort: John is in
  zijn vier jaar al 48 keer opgenomen voor verschillende klachten.
  Afgelopen maand werd er beenmergtering bij John ontdekt.  Hij zal zijn
  vijfde jaar niet halen, als hij niet word geopereerd.  Daar hebben wij
  het geld niet meer voor.  Wij wonen bij onze (schoon)ouders e n ook
  onze pensioen reserves zijn verdwenen in de eerdere operaties.  Nu
  heeft onze verzekering een deal gesloten met de provider "Het Net".

  Voor elke forward van dit mailtje ontvangen wij 5 ct.  Help jij ons
  mee Johns leven te redden?
          Ria en Koos.

This Polish version started spreading around April 2002

  PRZECZYTAJ TO I PRZESLIJ DALEJ BARDZO WAZNE !!!

  Jesli usuniesz ten list... bedzie to oznaczac, ze
  naprawde nie masz serca. Czesc, jestem 29 letnim
  ojcem. Ja i moja zona mielismy razem cudowne zycie.
  B�g poblogoslawil nas takze dzieckiem. Nasza
  dziesieciomiesieczna c�rka ma na imie Rachel.
  Niedawno lekarz wykryl raka m�zgu w jej malutkim
  ciele. Jest tylko jedna droga, aby ja ocalic ...
  operacja. To przykre, ale nie mamy dosc pieniedzy na
  operacje. AOL i ZDNET zgodzily sie nam pom�c. Jedyny
  spos�b w jaki moga to uczynic polega na tym, ze ja
  wysylam ten list do Ciebie, a Ty wysylasz go dalej,
  do innych ludzi. AOL sprawdza ile os�b dostalo list.
  Kazda osoba, kt�ra otworzy i przesle list dalej , do
  co najmniej trzech os�b, podaruje nam 32 centy.

  Prosze, pom�z nam!

This Spanish version started spreading around September 2002

  CANCER
  Yo espero que ustedes tengan el coraz�n de no
  borrar este mensaje!!
  Hola, mi nombre es Amy Bruce. Yo tengo siete a�os y
  tengo un severo c�ncer de pulm�n como fumador pasivo.
  Yo tambi�n tengo un gran tumor cerebral producto de
  varias met�stasis.
  Los m�dicos dicen que morir� pronto si no se hace
  algo, y mi familia no puede pagar las cuentas. La
  Fundaci�n "Pide un Deseo"("Make a Wish"), ha convenido
  en donar 7 centavos por cada vez que alguien reciba y
  env�e adelante este. Para todos ustedes que env�en
  copia de este e-mail, les doy las gracias y todos
  aquellos que no lo har�n, recuerden que todo lo que
  "Va, se regresa".
  Tengan coraz�n, por favor env�en este e-mail
  a todas sus amistades.
  PD: HACER UN FORWARD NO CUESTA NADA
  Dra. Silvia Moguillansky
  Coordinadora de Im�genes
  Hospital Nacional de Pediatr�a
  "J.P.Garrahan"
  P.D. Fumador Pasivo, significa el receptor
  indirecto del humo que expiden las
  personas que fuman, en este caso,
  sus padres fueron los que
  causaron el problema.
  Irene P.

Please ignore these messages and don't spread them any further. For more information, check the America Cancer Society web site (http://www.cancer.org/chain.html).

[Last modified: April 2002]