Virginia Woman Accused of Lying About Cancer for Money

Martha Nicholas raised money by lying about cancer

A Virginia woman was accused of lying for years about having cancer.

Authorities charged 42-year-old Martha Nicholas with two misdemeanor counts of making money under the pretense she needed help for medical bills because of her cancer treatments.

Investigators have evidence that people gave her money because they believed she was suffering from cancer, authorities said. The Hampton County Sheriff's Department said there's no evidence of any cancer treatment at any medical facility.

One of Nicholas's friends said she's angry.

“Martha shared some inspirational messages with me, and to look back on that now that she wasn’t actually going through what she said she was going through is very upsetting,” Natalie Ball said. “It makes you second guess everything.”

Nicholas was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and participated in Relay for Life events.

The American Cancer Society said the money raised by Nicholas’s team went to its programs.

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