In a shocking turn of events, a Nigerian sickle cell warrior and advocate, Precious Gaza, has been accused of involvemnet in an elaborate web of deception as her friends uncovered the alleged truth behind her purported bone marrow fundraising campaign.
What started as an initiative to save a life has now become a cautionary tale of alleged deceit and misappropriation of funds.
In a Facebook video uploaded on Precious’ behalf as far back as March 23, 2021, Precious’ friends gave one million and one reasons why she deserved the kindness and generosity of members of the public in her quest for bone marrow transplant that would rid her of the sickle cell disases.
According to description on her LinkedIn page, Precious Gaza is a customer service manager, sickle cell advocate, community builder and passionate about documenting and storytelling.
Reports revealed that in March 2021, Gaza convinced her friends and followers that she was in dire need of a bone marrow transplant.
An astonishing £53,400 in foreign currency and a staggering N33 million in local contributions were raised, all meant to support Precious in her fight for survival
Tapping into the compassion and generosity of those around her, a fundraising campaign was launched on GoFundMe with an ambitious target of $200,000 to cover the life-saving medical expenses.
The response from her network of well-wishers was overwhelming, with donations pouring in from across the globe. An astonishing £53,400 in foreign currency and a staggering N33 million in local contributions were raised, all meant to support Precious in her fight for survival.
GoFundMe according to Wikipedia is an American for-profit crowdfunding platform that allows people to raise money for events ranging from life events such as celebrations and graduations to challenging circumstances like accidents and illnesses. From 2010 to the beginning of 2020, over $9 billion had been raised on the platform, with contributions from over 120 million donors.
Suspicions arise
However, as suspicions arose over inconsistencies in Precious’ story, her friends decided to dig deeper into the matter. What they uncovered was a shocking betrayal of trust. It appears that Ms. Gaza had manipulated her friends into believing her desperate need for a transplant, only for her to allegedly misuse the donated funds for extravagant personal expenses.
In the face of mounting evidence, Precious’ friends took swift action and closed the GoFundMe account to prevent any further misuse of funds. But despite their efforts, the self-styled sickle advocate resorted to other means to solicit more money.
The once-beloved emotional intelligence coach now faces backlash and disdain for her alleged actions, leaving her reputation in tatters
Sharing a staged image of herself claiming to be in a rehab center, Precious asserted that the funds raised by her friends on GoFund Me had been utilized for flight fares, hospital bills and consultations.
Unfortunately for her, the public and donors were not easily swayed by her claims. Outrage and skepticism have since flooded social media as netizens questioned the authenticity of her story.
The once-beloved emotional intelligence coach is now facing backlash and disdain for her alleged actions, leaving her reputation in tatters.
Implications for fundraiser
The fallout from Precious Gaza’s alleged deception has far-reaching implications for fundraising campaigns and online influencers alike.
It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of due diligence when contributing to such initiatives and the need for vigilance in ensuring that donations are used for their intended purpose.
As the investigation continues, Precious Gaza’s bone marrow fundraising scandal has continued to trigger conversations about transparency, accountability, and the impact of social media on charitable giving.
What was meant to be a noble cause has turned into a cautionary tale, urging all to be cautious and discerning in their philanthropic endeavors, lest the noblest intentions fall prey to deception and deceit.
