A grieving mum has been left "devastated" after fundraising money in memory of her son has gone missing.
Lloyd Cheung died at the young age of three after battling a rare and aggressive form of brain tumour. A fundraiser had been launched to help the family with acquiring hospital costs and to help make lasting memories. The money was also due to be put towards a headstone when he tragically died last November.
But despite raising over £4,000, mum Sarah said she has not yet received the money from the person who set up the fundraiser. She said: "I've been asking for the money since December to put a deposit down on a headstone but I keep being fobbed off.
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"I was getting small payments here and there but I reported the fundraising page last week and Go Fund Me told me the person had withdrawn the money. I just feel ashamed and terrible for anyone who had donated.
"I don't know how someone could do something like that, especially knowing what the money was raised for, it's vile."
Currently, young Lloyd does not have a headstone at his resting place, but the Aigburth mum soon hopes to get one. A new fundraising page has been set up to help in her efforts, which can be found here.
Despite initially being diagnosed with a viral infection, Lloyd began vomiting, walking into things and having silent seizures.
In 2021, mum Sarah returned to the doctors when her youngest son was "sleeping a lot and scrunching his face to one side" before they were told the devastating news he had an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (ATRT) - an aggressive and rare tumour of the central nervous system.
After his initial treatments, in May 2022 Lloyd's condition went into remission, but in July another tumour was discovered growing in the front of his head and four down his spine, meaning his cancer had returned and was rapidly spreading. After being told there was nothing more that could be done, Lloyd died in his mum's arms at Alder Hey Children's Hospital on November 4, 2022 at 6.44am.
Sarah added: "Originally the fundraiser was set up to help with Lloyd because he was still here so it would help towards hospital expenses and toys but when he passed away I was going to use that money towards a headstone. I just want to say sorry to people who donated, I'm devastated and in total shock."
A spokesperson for GoFundMe said: "We’re in touch with Sarah and are working with her to make it right. As a general point, the GoFundMe Guarantee ensures that all funds donated on our platform get to the right place or will be refunded."
GoFundMe has also donated £500 to the new fundraising page, which has so far raised over £600 of its £4,000 target.
Sarah previously spoke to the ECHO about her inspirational son as she urged parents to know the signs. She said: "He was always smiling, he always wanted to play, especially when he saw other children at the hospital.
"He was an inspiration, he was one of a kind. I have two other children as well but he was different, he was a right wild child and a rebel. He made everyone laugh and smile. I miss him so much, I feel so lost without him."
March marks brain tumour awareness month as The Brain Tumour Charity urge people to know the signs. Common symptoms in children include:
- Headaches
- Changes in vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Balance problems
- Seizures
- Behaviour changes
- Abnormal head position/Abnormal growth
- Excessive thirst
- Reduced consciousness
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