China Scene: North

Sick women's call for help met with flood of cash

A 20-year-old leukemia patient from a poor rural family in Wu'an, Hebei province, has had her hopes of survival lifted by the town's warmhearted mayor and residents.

Knowing her family is unable to afford the expensive medical treatment she must undergo, Wang Yanli, the woman, wrote to Zhao Guoling, the mayor, asking for help several days ago. To her surprise, Zhao not only helped her get 20,000 yuan ($2,800) from the local Red Cross, but also urged local people to show their concern for her.