Cancer Fraudster Faces New Charges
Posted November 1, 2010 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Burlington woman who admitted faking cancer to collect thousands in donations is now facing three new fraud charges.
Ashley Kirilow, 23, has now been charged with six counts of fraud under $5 thousand and one count of fraud over $5 thousand.
The latest charges come after three new complainants came forward with fresh allegations.
Kirilow has admitted to pretending to have cancer after having a benign lump removed from her breast in 2008.
She shaved her head and eyebrows, and plucked her eyelashes to give the appearance of having been through chemotherapy treatments.
She began to claim she had many different varieties of cancer, stomach, liver, ovarian and brain. She had the words “won’t quit” tattooed on her knuckles.
Family, friends and total strangers began to raise money for the young woman, who claimed she needed the cash for treatment. One benefit at a Burlington pub raised $9, 000.
Kirilow also accepted a free trip to Disneyland courtesy of the charity “Skate4Cancer.”
In October 2009, she began her charity “Change For A Cure,” where she claimed she was raising money for cancer research at the University of Alberta. Many benefit concerts and fundraisers were held, with Kirilow allegedly pocketing the cash.
By the end of 2009, Ashley had racked up more than $30, 000 in personal debts and in January declared bankruptcy with just $1, 000 in assets.
She has blamed her actions on a troubled childhood and poor relationship with her parents.
“She had two loving families that cared for her and wanted her. She had every opportunity to succeed. Her life was no different than millions of other peoples…it was never enough for her,” her father Michael Kirilow has said.
Ashely Kirilow will appear in court on Tuesday. She is expected to plead guilty to all charges.
