AIBU not to contribute to a crowd-funding request?

[Patnotpending]

I've been asked to contribute to a crowd-funder to send a woman to the US for treatment at an 'amazing' hospital run by a former surgeon who seems to specialise in treating people who have been given only a few months to live. The patient has a cancer that has a very poor prognosis. She has a 1 in 4 chance of surviving a year and a 6 in 100 chance of living for five years. Apparently the US hospital specialises in treatments not available on the NHS but it's not clear what they are.

I've known other people who have died while spending all their money on quack and alternative therapies after refusing what the NHS has to offer and I absolutely hate the charlatans involved. I would really rather give some money to a charity that supports women and children – vaccinations for children or the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, for example. My partner tells me I'm being unkind and I should give £20 and then forget about it. I really don't want a penny of my money going to some quack who preys on the vulnerable. AIBU to refuse?

On the basis that it's your niece's best friend's mum I personally would donate something, you don't have to know someone to show some compassion and support.

I would not be donating a "three figure sum" though in fairness, £30/£40 would be sufficient in my view (although if I was incredibly wealthy my donation would reflect that).

We had something similar recently. My parents wanted to give to help with certain aspects of treatment and daily life but struggled with the "alternative" therapies aspect. In the end, they still gave and said they hoped it helped with the things they wanted. However if it had only been an alternative therapy request, they wouldn't have contributed.