Zhang Qian

    zhqcindy@163.com

    They put on masks and glowing bracelets and held light sticks in their hands as they ran around Shenzhen University’s campus, not only to celebrate Halloween but, more importantly, to raise money for their peer who was in urgent need of help.

    Approximately 5,000 people joined the fund-raising running event from October 29 to 31 at Shenzhen University to help raise money for a student surnamed Chen who was diagnosed with leukemia.

    Chen’s single-parent family could hardly afford to pay the medical expenses of around 800,000 yuan (US$126,240), so the Shenzhen University Commonweal Association (SCA) decided to raise money through a charity event.

    With sponsorship from more than 10 local enterprises, each person who ran around the campus from 7 to 10 p.m. and collected three stamps from three locations would successfully make a contribution of five yuan to Chen. Those who completed one-third of the route made a donation of three yuan and those who completed two-thirds of the route donated four yuan. Participants could also enter a lottery held by the association.

    “We raised about 30,000 yuan from the runners during the three-day event,” said Yan Shaodi, a junior student at the university and the person in charge of student donations for the SCA. “The enterprises will pay the donations accumulated by the runners and we are also talking to the enterprises about making donations to the student and his family,” said Yan.

    In addition to students from the university, people from many other walks of life also joined the event. Zheng Hui, a volunteer from Futian District, also participated in the event and completed the run.

    “I think the event was very well-organized by the university and I have seen many adults running with their children around the campus and also some elderly and retired people participating as well, which warms my heart a lot,” said Zheng.

    Another participant, Liu Siling, completed a run around Shenzhen University’s campus on Thursday night after work with two friends. She told Shenzhen Daily that it was a delightful evening to run with people who would like to help others.

    “I am very happy to see many students and warm-hearted people organizing a charity event for people who need our help and I could actually feel the kindness floating in the air that night,” said Liu. “I hope there will be more charity events like this in Shenzhen.”