College students launched a "charity sale week" campaign to raise money for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) patients at the Spring City Square of Jinan, Shandong province, on Nov 6.

OI is a genetic connective tissue disease. Its clinical characteristics are fragile bones and bone deformities.

The patients are usually called "China Dolls" since their bones get frequent fractures and are much more vulnerable to collisions. It is estimated that there are about 100,000 OI patients in China.

Supported by the China Dolls Care and Support Association, the event involves hundreds of students from the University of Jinan, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, and Shandong Jianzhu University.

The students are raising donations during the week selling greeting cards, T-shirts and hats with the theme of "China doll". The income will all be used for the treatment of OI patients.

"As a student, I can't earn money now, but I still want to do my best to help them. I wish they can live a normal life," said 20-year-old Yang Chengxi from the University of Jinan.

Yang said many volunteer associations in his college often organize their members to help take care of the OI patients in their spare time.