When 19-year-old Stephen Sutton was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he started a social media project, documenting his story and fundraising efforts for cancer.

Fifteen months ago, Sutton set a goal to raise roughly $17,000 for the British Teenage Cancer Trust.

But he surpassed that goal and raised more than $2m.

The use of social media to raise money and awareness for various causes is growing in popularity, but it also involves greater risks.

Al Jazeera's Catherine Stancl reports from London.