ITS a story that would break anybodys heart, a young mother of six stricken by terminal cancer and left with only three years to live.

The tale prompted friends and strangers, including the former wife of murdered Melbourne crime boss Carl Williams, to give to a fundraising campaign generating thousands for cancer battler Elizabeth “Elle” Edmunds. The only problem was the story wasn’t true.

ASYLUM-GUARD LOVECHILD A POOR SECRET

EXPECT MORE TERROR RAIDS: AFP CHIEF

People were told the 31-year-old had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April and that by September it had spread to her lungs.

But last week the alleged scam unravelled when family and friends learned “Elle” never had cancer.

A man purporting to be the woman’s defacto partner revealed on the Facebook page documenting Elizabeth’s struggle that he had been duped as well.

“She has never had cancer,” he wrote.

Police said they were investigating the alleged scam but no charges had been laid yet.

Yesterday in Belmont, the Lake Macquarie woman believed to have benefited from the thousands of dollars raised was asked to explain her actions. She replied: “I’ve got extremely serious mental health issues.”

In her apparent struggle against the disease — detailed online — she shaved her head and posted on Facebook about dreaming of her funeral.

However, one of her supporters claimed on the social media site Edmunds refused to let anyone go with her on her “chemotherapy” treatments. “She made everyone ... believe it. She made us do everything for her and if we didn’t she would guilt trip us saying we didn’t care she had cancer,” she wrote.

It’s believed a referral to the Mummy’s Wish Foundation in September, which resulted in a $500 eftpos card, was the beginning of her windfall. A dedicated bank account was also set up, along with a donation website, which had nearly $2000 pledged before it was taken down.

Ms Williams, who organised a $150-a-head dinner for Edmunds, was just one of the furious fundraisers yesterday. She said Australian actor Lance Delaforce, who went to school with Ms Edmunds, asked her to help with the fundraising efforts. “It’s sad because it has made me not want to help anyone else,” she said.

Disgusted Western Sydney mum Jess McKay did not know “Elle” but helped run a Facebook page to raise money: “I’ve dropped off donation tins. The Sydney Roosters sent me a ball signed by Michael Jennings.”