Society

Student toils in colliery for mother's medical cost

By Quan Li (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-08-19 15:43

Pu Zhigang works in a colliery. [Photo/www.newssc.org]

A 17-year-old student dropped out of school and worked secretly in a colliery to pay for his sick mum’s treatment, the Western China Metropolis Daily reported Thursday.

People were so touched by Pu Zhigang’s story online that he has received 51,000 yuan ($7,512) from generous netizens moved by his plight.

Pu Libi, Pu’s mother, was diagnosed with kidney failure in early June this year and spent nearly 200,000 yuan in half a month on treatment. The family, located in Longwangtang village of Wanyuan city in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, was droven to despair.

“My mum is ill from overworking for me and my sister,” Pu said in tears. When the mother first fell ill she avoided going to the doctor so she could save for her children’s education.

To help pay for his mother’s kidney transplant, Pu Zhigang left school in late June and worked for a colliery in Guandu town of Wanyuan city.

“I haven’t told her about my job. I told her that I was preparing for the college entrance examination next year,” he said.

Pu sent his first month’s salary of 1,500 yuan to his mother in late July and said he will continue making money until his mother is cured.

Pu has also received 7,000 yuan relief money from the local government. Then netizens set up a donation account for his mother and deposited 51,000 yuan in two days, the report said.