Ever since the list of torchbearers was officially announced in March, Song Minglang and his mother have created a stir in the local media in Hunan province. They are reportedly the only mother-son pair selected through a public competition.

Despite the wide coverage, Song, 25, a village official, has seldom spoken to the media.

"I am a very shy person," he said.

However, a day before the 205 torchbearers in the Yueyang relay were about to be dismissed after a training session, Song called for their attention.

"Would you all please do me a favor and sign a banner my mother has prepared?"

"It was previously meant for the Olympics, but since the earthquake in Sichuan, we've decided to have it auctioned. She has also embroidered a pair of dragon shoes and a pair of phoenix shoes."

"They are probably the largest of their kind in the world. All proceeds will go to the quake-hit areas," Song said.

His mother, Hu Baoqiao, a 51-year-old retired woman, made it on the list of torchbearers after embroidering 2,008 pairs of shoes featuring Olympic themes. It took her six years to do it.

The dragon and phoenix shoes measure 4.36 m in length, 1.19 m wide and the cloths weigh 100 kg. Her smallest embroidery of orchids and chrysanthemums is no bigger than a bean.

Hu's banner has various patterns of "2008" on it. Ever since Jan 1, Hu has been adding seals from the local post office to it each day.

"Originally, the banner was meant to be part of an exhibition to showcase the 2008 shoes," Song said. "We thought it would serve as the best gift we could offer to the Olympics, but the earthquake has changed things."

The family had been thinking about helping the quake victims but do not have the money. Since 2001, Hu has spent 70,000 yuan on the shoes, not easy for the family that relies on her pension of only 600 yuan a month. In fact, Hu has had to sell some of her jewelry her mother left her.

"We believe that our efforts to support the earthquake victims is in fact also a good way to support the Beijing Olympics," Song said.

His call received immediate applause. Almost all the torchbearers signed the banner.

Some even suggested Song provide two more banners to collect as many signatures as possible.

"To be honest, speaking in public is a bit too much for me," Song said. "But as long as we can gain as much support as possible to generate donations, it is worthwhile."

(China Daily June 4, 2008)