Seattle police opened an investigation Friday into Tracy Dart, a West Seattle woman who told her supporters she had survived cancer three times.
Police said they were looking into allegations of fraud, and would like anyone with information to contact them.
Since 2006, Dart had participated in the Susan G. Komen three-day walk. The foundation said Dart personally raised more than $28,000 for the foundation, and her team has raised $414,000.
Tracy Dart told ppl she survived cancer 3x. This guy even shaved his head in support. But … https://t.co/SLOmscTGZE pic.twitter.com/YqaLUwAhrk
— Natasha Chen (@NatashaChenCNN) February 9, 2016
The Puget Sound Komen Foundation spoke to Dart’s family earlier this year, and a family member told them Tracy Dart never had cancer.
Part of the foundation’s statement said: “We are sad for Tracy and her family and hope that she, and they, will find healing in the days ahead.”
Matthew Welch, the general manager of Auburn Volkswagen, said his dealership gave Dart a car to use during the Komen walk. He said they had gotten a bright pink wrap on a convertible Beetle, for Dart’s team to drive people who got tired during the three days.
He loaned her this car four years in a row for the event.
“Originally it was for the weekend, and then when she brought it back, she got emotional. And we said, ‘let's find a way to let you keep it,’” Welch said.
So at that point, Dart ended up using the car for a year.
Then recently, Welch was contacted by one of the people on Tracy’s walk team.
“She sat down and said, ‘she doesn’t have cancer.’ And then we said, ‘praise God, she’s healed!’ And then she said ‘no, she’s never had cancer,’” he said.
Some people in West Seattle, who wished to stay anonymous, said businesses hosted fundraisers for Dart, where money was given directly to her.
One man even shaved his head in support.
“That is so heartbreaking,” said Anna Gottlieb, founder and executive director of Gilda’s Club, which is now known as Cancer Pathways.
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She said, “It’s really hard for cancer patients to hear that story, because they’re going through it every day. To hear that somebody is faking that story is just horrible.”
Gottlieb said the unintended consequence is that now donor may grow skeptical over giving money to causes like this.
She said it’s important for people to get to know the individuals who are fundraising on an organization’s behalf, and to get to know the work of the organization.
The Puget Sound Komen Foundation said it will not be changing any of its policies because of this situation.
Seattle police have reached out to them, and a foundation spokesperson said they will be fully cooperative.
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Cox Media Group
