A US man who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for a supposed terminal cancer charity tour has died in New Zealand, days after being accused of being a serial conman. Douglas Lee 'Doug' Ruch, 56, died in Auckland on 18 December, according to authorities in the US and New Zealand. The cause of death remains unknown.
Ruch had gained widespread media attention for his 'Dying to Serve' tour, which he claimed involved travelling to volunteer for community service projects. He raised around $230,000 on GoFundMe before deactivating the campaign amid questions about its legitimacy. A separate campaign to fund a trip to Australia raised over $10,000 before being shut down.
An article published on 17 December by journalist David Farrier alleged that Ruch had previously launched several other GoFundMe campaigns, including one to adopt a dog and others described as a 'dating service' where victims paid for his meals and petrol. Farrier reported speaking to people who knew Ruch, who painted a picture of 'an alleged serial conman' who owed money to former partners and child support.
When contacted by the Guardian in early December, Ruch denied the allegations, insisting he had terminal cancer and had used the funds as promised. He refused to share medical records, saying: 'I don't owe any of these haters anything.' GoFundMe stated that his fundraisers remained within their terms of service and did not respond to follow-up questions after his death.
Ruch had told the Guardian in April that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early 2021, which had progressed to a terminal stage. He said he had visited nine US states, helping 35 non-profit organisations. His online photos showed him at locations listed on his tour website. In his last correspondence, he mentioned strained family relations, mental health struggles and past suicide attempts.
