VICTOR HARBOR - The report, "Can you please help us", sparked an outpouring of community spirit when The Times launched a public fundraising appeal. More than $1500 in donations had been received at the newspaper office by close of business last Thursday.

The fundraising snowballed on Friday when Radio 5MU and Power FM lent support to the appeal under the banner "Radio Rescue".

In total, almost $9000 had been raised and, at least one local business, had also given Walsh cash directly. A new vacuum cleaner was donated too, along with a number of gift baskets.

None of the funds raised by The Times or the radio stations has been handed over to Walsh.

The appeal was closed immediately on Friday afternoon after a caller to The Times made allegations about the authenticity of Walsh's story. The caller allegedly knew the couple when Walsh's husband, Graeme, was a submariner.

The Times' managing editor, Carolyn Jeffrey, immediately took the information to the Victor Harbor police, who launched an extensive investigation, including checking medical records.

Ms Jeffrey said the staff of the newspaper had been clearly rocked by the deception allegations.

"It has been a real emotional rollercoaster, from interviewing and updating Angie who was constantly in tears, to the sickening realisation that we may have been deceived and had passed on a deception to our community," Ms Jeffrey said.

"The outpouring of community spirit with donations, and comments made to staff by donors, was overwhelming and demonstrated how truly lucky we are to live in such a close-knit and caring community."

Although many of the donors have left their names attached to their donations, unfortunately, there are also many who opted to make their contributions anonymously.

"We have decided, irrespective of the outcome of Angie's court case, to refund the monies that we can and we would encourage anyone who was issued with a receipt to contact the office for a refund.

"However, as anonymous donors cannot easily be identified, and sadly there are some people who might take advantage of the situation to claim donations they did not make, we plan to donate the remaining funds to Southern Fleurieu Cancer Support where local genuine cancer sufferers will be assisted."

Southern Fleurieu Cancer Support has been providing assistance to Angie and her family with a carer even accompanying Angie to The Times' office for support when thank you cards were delivered for the newspaper's staff.

"If these charges is proven, then we can all reflect on just how easily people can be duped into providing money to assist those we believe to be in need," Ms Jeffrey said.

"We are indeed sorry that a large number of people have been caught up in the appeal, perhaps under false pretences.

"We were faced with a dilemma - to help someone immediately who we believed had only a short time to live, or to conduct further investigation from medical authorities which would have not only been extremely difficult given privacy restrictions, but could also have been protracted.

"Like the community of which we are a part, we simply acted to try to assist one of our own in their hour of need."