One of the boons of the Internet is that it can be used to help those in need by spreading information quickly and widely: disseminating descriptions of missing children, raising money to treat sick children, requesting prayers for desperately ill children, helping to fulfill the last wishes of dying children.
Unfortunately, this boon has also proved to be a double-edged sword. Appeals for help get out quickly and spread widely, but they also never go away. Our inboxes continue to be clogged with messages about missing children who have long since been found or sick children who have long since recovered (or died), not to mention a plethora of missives that are nothing but mean-spirited hoaxes.
Allen, Sabrina Fair:
A five-year-old girl named Sabrina Fair Allen is missing from her Austin, Texas, home.
Arlington, Rachel:
AOL and ZDNet are donating 32¢ per e-mail forward to help Rachel Arlington, a child with brain cancer who is in need of an operation her parents can't afford.*
Beerman, Jermaine:
A billionaire has promised 5¢ per e-mail forward to help Jermaine Beerman, a child injured in an auto accident.*
Bergstroem, Hannes:
Your help is needed to identify a young tsunami victim and reunite him with his family.*
Brown, Penny:
Nine-year-old Penny Brown is missing.*
Bruce, Amy:
The Make-A-Wish Foundation will donate 7¢ for every copy of the Amy Brucee-mail message forwarded to them.*
Bucklew, David "Darren":
The "Lung and Cancer Association" will donate 3¢ to cancer research for every copy of the David Bucklewe-mail message forwarded to them.*
Bundy, Amanda:
A little girl named Amanda Bundy is dying from a deadly cancer.*
Cohen, Jada:
A billionaire has promised 5¢ per e-mail forward to help
Jada, a premature baby requiring expensive medical care.*
Costea, Ionut: Ionut Costea, an injured Romanian child in need of expensive medical treatment, needs your help.*
Degree, Asha:
A little girl named Asha Degree is missing.*
de Leon, Jeff:
The Make-A-Wish Foundation will donate 7¢ for every copy of the Jeff de Leone-mail message forwarded to them.*
Desquetado, Rhyan:
The Make-A-Wish Foundation will donate 7¢ for every copy of the Rhyan Desquetadoe-mail message forwarded to them.*
Farber, Nicholas: Nicholas Farber, a nine-year-old boy abducted from his California home by gunmen, is still missing.*
Foraker, Savannah:
Three unnamed corporate sponsors will donate 5¢ per e-mail forward to help Savannah Foraker, a child dying of an unnamed blood disease.
Flyte, Timothy:
The "Valley Children's Hospital" will donate 7¢ to the "National Disease Society" for every copy of the Timothy Flytee-mail message forwarded to them.*
Godron-Wood, Shyanne Josephine:
Shyanne Josephine Godron-Wood of Henderson, Nevada is missing.
Hafeez, Fatima:
BCC Inc. has promised 5¢ per e-mail forward to help
Fatima Hafeez, a child injured in an auto accident.
Hembree, Brayden:
Little Brayden Hembree is lying in a coma in a South Carolina hospital.*
Hennigan, Briana:
A 13-year-old girl named Briana Hennigan is missing from her Zachary, Louisiana, home.*
Hoenstine, Faith: Faith Hoenstine, a multiple-amputee girl dying of cancer, wants you to send her get well cards.*
Hornbeck, Shawn:
An 11-year-old boy named Shawn Hornbeck is missing from his Missouri home.*
Jackson, LaNisha:
The Make-A-Wish Foundation will donate 7¢ for every copy of the LaNisha Jacksone-mail message forwarded to them.*
Jones, Kelsey Brooke:
A little kid named Kelsey Brooke Jones is missing, and your help is needed to find her.*
Mydek, Jessica:
The American Cancer Society will donate 3¢ to cancer research for every copy of the Jessica Mydeke-mail message forwarded to them.*
Natalie:
AOL is donating 5 cents per e-mail forward towards the care of Natalie, a child afflicted with brain cancer.*
Novenche, Michael: Michael Novenche is undergoing chemotherapy to kill a brain tumor.*
Parkin, Anthony:
Dying boy named Anthony Parkin wants his chain message to circulate after his death.
Parrish, Delaney:
A baby girl named Delaney Parrish pulled a hot Fry Daddy onto herself, resulting in serious burns.*
Pingel, Lauren Renee:
Prayers are requested for Lauren Renee Pingel, a three-year-old girl from Amarillo, Texas, who was injured in an automobile accident.
Relek, Kalin:
BCC Inc. has promised 5¢ per e-mail forward to help
Kalin Relek, a child injured in an auto accident.
Ryan, Lindsey:
A 14-year-old Michigan girl named Lindsey Ryan is missing.
Santillan, Jesica:
Prayers are needed for the survival of Jessica Santillan, a 17-year-old given the wrong organs in a heart and lung transplant.
Sarkies, Ashlyn:
A 16-year-old girl named Ashlyn Sarkies is missing from her Louisiana home.*
Smart, Elizabeth Ann:
A 14-year-old Salt Lake City girl by the name of Elizabeth Smart is missing.
Solidaridad Con Brian:
ISPs will contribute 1¢ towards a child's heart transplant for every copy of the Solidaridad Con Brian message forwarded to someone else.*
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= unclassifiable veracity