Correction: Notre Dame-Te'o-Fundraiser story

A corrected version of the story is below:

Fundraiser 'shell-shocked' by Te'o girlfriend hoax

Notre Dame alum who launched fundraiser in memory of Te'o girlfriend 'shell-shocked' by hoax

By CHARLES WILSON

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A University of Notre Dame graduate who launched a campaign to raise money for a cancer research group in memory of linebacker Manti Te'o's girlfriend says he is "shell-shocked" to learn the woman didn't exist.

Dan Tudesco, a 2006 graduate who now works in public relations in New York, set up an online account at fundraising website indiegogo.com on Jan. 9 to solicit $5,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc. The initial pitch said donations would go to the society in memory of Lennay Kekua, who reportedly died last fall, and in honor of Te'o, "two individuals who have been an inspiration to us through an iconic season."

Tudesco said he and three friends got the fundraising idea after a seeing a video that went viral of Tudesco holding his head in dismay during the Irish's 42-14 loss to Alabama in the national championship game on Jan. 7.

The goal was to turn the loss — and the player's sudden popularity — into something positive.

"I think we were all kind of disappointed in the result of the game ... and the Manti story was very inspirational," Tudesco told The Associated Press on Thursday.