(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-13 07:15

Next month a high school student will not be sitting for his examination to enter college, an opportunity to change one's life for many Chinese.

An image of Wang Rongling and his mother appears on a large display screen outside Beijing Western railway station. [www.people.com.cn]

Instead, he has started a media campaign from his hometown of Fuzhou, Fujian province, to Beijing to raise money for his mother who is suffering from cancer.

Wang Rongling, 19, said: "I am racing against time. I have to save my mother."

Wang, the son of a pedicab driver, decided to travel to Beijing to raise more funds and to look for a better hospital for his mother.

On Saturday, shortly after his arrival at Beijing Western Railway Station, Wang noticed a big advertising screen watched by thousands of travelers each day.

He went to the office in charge of the screen and asked them to see his video clips.

In one, he is seen combing his mother's hair and feeding her.

To his surprise, the company agreed to show the video in between the commercials for free.

The story was reported by local and national newspapers on Sunday - Mother's Day.

Wang, aware of the media's power in publicizing his plea, asked China Daily for help and to include his blog in the story.

By yesterday afternoon, he had received his first promise of a donation by a company.

"It is my duty to raise money for my mother's surgery and for her continuous treatment," Wang said. "After all, she has been through difficult times raising me, especially when I was sick. It is what a son should do. "

Huang Zhuru, his mother, was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus in 2006.

Medical fees so far totaling 17,000 yuan ($2,460) has impoverished the family.

In February, Huang's condition took a turn for the worse with the cancer spreading to her lungs. Chemotherapy treatment Wang was told would cost about 40,000 yuan.

Wang has so far raised that sum, but needs more funds for his mother's aftercare treatment.

Asked whether his mother had agreed to his decision to drop out of the exam, he said: "I can always return to school next semester. I will repay those who have helped me."