Emails for a cancer victim named Rachel-Fiction!

Forward Emails to Help Pay For Cancer Treatment for 10-year-old Rachel-Fiction!

Summary of eRumor:
A 29 year old father who identifies himself as George Arlington says that AOL and ZD-net will give 32 cents toward medical care for his cancer-stricken daughter for every three emails a person forwards to other people.

The Truth:
This is a hoax. No one named George Arlington with a daughter named Rachel with cancer has been found and there is no way of tracking forwarded emails in this way for purposes of paying out money.

There is a more recent version (Nov, 01) that has a picture of a baby attached with a decorative blue ribbon around the baby's neck with a tag that says "From God."
The picture is usually in a Word for Windows document named leikaemi_.doc.

Another version combines this story with another eRumor, an inspirational poem titled "To My Child."
A variation of this version claims that the family lives in Zimbabwe in Africa.

updated 04/02/02

A real example of the story as it has been circulated:

Original Version

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’s 10 years old. Not long ago the doctors detected brain cancer 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 THAT OPENS THIS EMAIL AND SENDS IT TO ATLEAST 3 PEOPLE will give us 32 cents. PLEASE HELP US.

George Arlington

Version # 2

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 Mc Donald'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 good night 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 has
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.

Please help us.