Chinese Red Cross Foundation (CRCF) announced Wednesday to
allocate 1.3 million yuan (US$176,000 ) to help 50 children with
leukemia from needy families.
The donation will be used to cover surgeries and therapy fees of
the 50 children, who are chosen by a special panel of the
foundation basing on the gravity of illness and their family
conditions, according to the CRCF.
Currently, China has more than 4 million leukemia patients and
the number increases at around 30,000 every year. Half of the
leukemia patients are children, especially those aged 2 to 7,
according to the CRCF.
leukemia is beyond the scope of commercial and social basic
medical insurance in China, and most common Chinese family can not
afford the expensive medical treatment.
The CRCF set up China's first special relief fund for leukemia
children, known as the Little Angel Fund, in June 2005, to provide
financial assistance for families in need.
By the end of October, the fund had raised 11.49 million yuan
(US$1.56 million) worth of donation from home and abroad and
assisted 460 children with leukemia.
(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2007)