Magda Szubanski warns fans of fake medical fundraisers amid cancer battle

‘Please don’t think it’s me.’

Beloved Australian comedian Magda Szubanski has urged fans not to donate to fake medical fundraisers purporting to be for her as she undergoes cancer treatment.

The 64-year-old, who announced in May last year she had been diagnosed with stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma, wrote on her Instagram on Saturday that any fundraisers for her on social media were scams.

Alongside two pictures of the fake fundraisers she said: “Dear peeps. This lovely lady – whoever she is – is not me. I hope she’s doing well. But please don’t think it’s me and DEFINITELY DO NOT DONATE MONEY TO ANY MEDICAL FUNDRAISER THAT PURPORTS TO BE ME!!”

Szubanski went onto say the only real information to do with her or her health could be found on her Instagram page.

Since announcing her health battle, Szubanski has been candid about her journey, posting updates online from her home and the hospital.

When she first shared the news of her diagnosis, the actress posted a photo of her shaved head, explaining it was in anticipation of losing her hair due to chemotherapy.

Mantle Cell Lymphoma is a rare and aggressive blood cancer.

According to the Leukemia Foundation, there were 330 cases of the cancer diagnosed in Australia in 2020.

Szubanski has been candid about her health journey, combining brutal honesty with her signature sense of humour.

In a video shared last October, the actress appeared in good spirits while thanking drag queen duo Trixie and Katya for being fans of Kath & Kim, the show that gave us her popular character, Sharon Strzelecki.

“I know I’m late to this but so many people have sent me links of Katya and Trixie watching Kath and Kim,” she said.

“Loving it and laughing along with us and loving the characters. I just wanted to say thank you, I really appreciate your appreciation.”

She also recommended the comedy duo watch her 1990s sketch show Big Girl’s Blouse, which first introduced the Fountain Lakes characters.

In true Szubanski fashion, she then shifted from gratitude to hilarity, revealing the surprising inspiration behind her accident-prone, sport-obsessed character’s iconic brown bob.

“Sharon’s hair is actually a nod to the Dorothy Hamill wedge,” she said.

“Dorothy Hamill being an ice-skater in the late 70s who had a very sensible hair cut because every sporty girl needs a sensible, functional fitness hair-do.

“Mine is courtesy of chemo couture.”

She captioned the posted: “Maybe I now qualify to come on the Bald and the Beautiful?? #chemocoiffure.”

“And FYI the #DorothyHamill #wedge made its debut in 1976.

“Ps Sharon sends her love. She can’t be here sadly as she got her netball bib caught in the sliding door of the team’s Toyota Tarago people mover.”