China's star hurdler Liu Xiang has taken to heart the plight of a female graduate student from South China Normal University who has been diagnosed with leukemia and is calling for donations to help her.

 

 

Wang Hongli, a female graduate student from South China Normal University, has been diagnosed with leukemia.

 

A sophomore, Wang Hongli, studies under Liu Xiang's former teammate, female hurdler Feng Yun, now a teacher at the university.

 

"Wang Hongli is an excellent student but from a poor family. She used to be the only hope in her family, but now the disease has struck them like a lightning bolt," said Feng Yun, expressing her deep concern.

 

The former hurdler revealed that a bone marrow match for Wang Hongli had been found in Beijing, the operation and further treatment will come to over 300 thousand yuan in expenses. Some university students have chipped in with some funds but they are far from enough.

 

Thus, Feng Yun called former teammate Liu Xiang for aid, hoping the hurdler star's power would attract more donations.

 

Soon after, Liu Xiang released his appeal to the media along with the details of a special account opened by the university to receive donations.

 

Li Wei, a graduate mentor at South China Normal University, told Xinhua News Agency that Liu Xiang's appeal had already had a marked effect, with more donations already being received. Wang Hongli has even been personally visited in hospital by generous contributors wishing to give her their donations personally.

 

 

Liu Xiang

 

All donations for Wang Hongli may be directed to South China Normal University at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Guangzhou, Account Number: 3602008109000386071.

 

(CRI March 21, 2007)