Believe In Magic, a charity supported by the popular band One Direction, was known for fulfilling the wishes of children battling cancer. However, a recent BBC documentary titled The Mother Of All Cons exposes a hidden deception within the organization that went unnoticed by its celebrity endorsers.
The charity was established in 2010 by Megan Bhari and her mother Jean O’Brien, claiming Megan had a brain tumor. With the help of celebrity endorsements, including wearing charity bracelets and hosting events like the Believe In Magic Cinderella Ball, the charity created lasting memories for children facing challenging circumstances.
Despite successful fundraising events at prestigious locations like Buckingham Palace, suspicions arose when a new appeal was made for emergency medical treatment for Megan in 2015. Concerned parents, including Nick Bird and Joanna Ashcroft, began questioning the authenticity of the charity’s activities.
Their doubts were confirmed when it was revealed that the money raised for Megan’s treatment was instead used for a trip to Disneyland. Subsequent investigations by the UK Charity Commission uncovered financial mismanagement and misconduct, with over £100,000 missing from the charity’s accounts due to Jean transferring funds for personal use.
Following Megan’s death in 2018, it was found that she did not have a brain tumor as claimed by Jean, but instead succumbed to cardiac arrhythmia caused by fatty liver disease. A review by Kingston Social Services in 2022 identified Megan as a victim of Fabricated or Induced Illness, also known as Munchausen by Proxy.
Despite efforts to seek justice, Jean has avoided consequences for her actions. Joanna and Nick continue to advocate for accountability in the hope that charges will be brought against Jean. The BBC’s attempts to reach Jean for comment have been unsuccessful.
The revelations surrounding Believe In Magic serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of transparency and accountability in charitable organizations. The documentary, The Mother Of All Cons, sheds light on the dark side of charity work and the consequences of deceit within the sector.