Lerchek's Charity Fund Faces Scrutiny Over Transparency
Blogger Valeria Chekalyina, known as Learchek, launched the charitable foundation 'Verа s Leroi' on August 25 to support children with cancer and other serious illnesses, but faced criticism over lack of transparency regarding beneficiaries and discrepancies in documentation.
Consensus
- Lerchek launched the charitable foundation 'Verа s Lera' on August 25.
- The foundation aims to support children with cancer and other severe illnesses.
- Lerchek stated she is not seeking financial help for herself but wants donations directed to children in need.
- The foundation was created with her civil husband, Luis Squichiarini.
- 5% of proceeds from her cosmetics brand Eyya will be donated to the foundation.
- The foundation is officially registered and accepting donations.
- Criticism has emerged over the absence of specific child names or medical histories on the foundation's website.
- There are concerns about the use of vague language describing beneficiaries as 'abstract children'.
- The foundation's documents include a clause allowing for increased administrative expenses.
- Lerchek has a history of legal issues related to money transfers abroad and was sentenced in August 2026.
Points of divergence
- Journalist Alena Martynova found that the foundation's director, Alla Kamyshenets, previously led the 'Romashka' fund, which was closed by court order due to lack of reporting. — gazeta_spb
- Lerchek has been diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer. — vm
- Lerchek and her former husband Artem Chekalin were accused of creating a criminal organization and laundering funds from fitness marathons; the case against her was resumed after being paused due to her illness, and she was sentenced in August 2026 to conditional punishment, a fine, and a ban on managing websites. — m24
- Legal experts note that the foundation's document wording is standard and taken from federal law, but the lack of specific child stories raises suspicion. — gazeta_spb
- The foundation's documents contain a clause allowing for increased administrative costs, which is considered suspicious by some. — vm
Coverage (6 sources)
- Blogger Lerchek Fund Faces Accusations of Malfeasance - SPB Newspaper - St. Petersburg News — Gazeta.SPb
- Lerchek Charity Fund: what it does, why it was criticized, can it profit from the sick — Вечерняя Москва
- After court, cancer blogger Lerchek created a charity fund - SPb Gazeta - St. Petersburg news — Gazeta.SPb
- Cancer-stricken Lerchek opened a charity fund to help children with cancer — РИАМО
- Cancer fighter Lerchek opens fund to help sick children and gets criticized — Вечерняя Москва
- Lerchek launched a children's aid fund "Faith with Lera" for children with serious illnesses — Москва 24
Key entities
- Lerchek
- Valeriya Chekalina
- Vera with Lera
- Louis Squicciarini
- Saint Petersburg
- SPB RU News Newspaper
- RIA Novosti
- TASS
- Networks
- Lerchek Charity Foundation
More on Lerchek
- Lerchek's cancer progresses, seeks treatment abroad
- Learchek Reports Cancer Progression
- Chekalin's wife nearly bedridden from cancer