Money stolen from cancer fundraiser meant to help young boy

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – New York State Police are investigating a person who a local family claims stole money and other goods from a fundraiser for a local boy with cancer.

Kamdon Wert has a rare form of cancer. He is receiving an outpouring of support as he fights cancer at Albany Medical Center. His family says one of his supporters may have chosen to help himself instead.

“Sometimes I wonder how he does it. He’s our superhero,” Kamdon’s Mom Krystal Hartley said.

Every Krystal takes care of her 9-year-old son, who is fighting ERMS, a type of cancer that affects the body’s connective tissue.

“He has a tumor on his head. It’s behind his nose, runs along his jaw, and goes to the base of his skull.”

On top of this, Krystal is now worrying about something else.

She and her cousin, Mary Francese claim someone stole nearly $1,600 from them and a GoFundMe page to help organize Kamdon’s fundraiser on Sunday.

Francese says their relationship with this person started on Facebook.

“He told me you know I’ll donate my time, I’ll help you with the benefit,” Francese said. “You know, I thought he was legit. I think everybody did.”

She says the person was supposed to buy a TV and other goods for a raffle and purchase audio equipment for the event. They also gave the person money to travel from Florida to New York, but they never made it.

“He was supposed to leave Thursday and be here Friday,” Krystal said. “One thing lead to another. You know, the text messages, pictures that were sent. Things just started not to add up.”

Krystal calls the person disgusting.

“To see someone, a child suffering and say hey let’s take advantage of this and take what was supposed to be his.”

Despite what happened Krystal says her priority is getting Kamdon healthy once again.

“We’ll take care of what we have to, but this right here is what I am focusing on.”

Krystal says they’re sharing their story because they don’t want this to happen to somebody else.

They were able to raise $10,000 at Sunday’s fundraiser. Krystal says they have another GoFundMe page solely for Kamdon’s expenses.