To help leukemia patients and give them hope for a better life, YK Pao School Shanghai Pinghe School, Shanghai Star-River Bilingual School, and Shanghai United International School, co-organised a cycling event called Cycle For Love on 4 April. For every kilometer ridden, 1 yuan is donated.
Statistics show that leukemia is one of the main causes of death of children under 14. More than 1 in 10,000 children are affected. 70% of cases occur before a child turns 3. If the leukemia is not cured in its early stages, it is almost always fatal. Yet if it's treated at an early stage, survival rates are above 70%. For low-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, nephroblastoma and other diseases, the survival rate is more than 85%. Most leukemia patients spend 40,000 to 80,000 yuan on medical treatment. There is better outcome after treatment, but some families cannot afford it. If we can give to those in need, there is a chance to save lives and the happiness of families.
The cycling event allows students to do something themselves to help leukemia patients in need, and give them the chance to grow up happy and healthy.
Leukemia patients in China's rural hospitals need more assistance than those in urban hospitals, such as Shanghai's. Thus, students chose Ningbo First Hospital in Zhejiang province as the hospital to which they would donate funds from the charity cycling activity. Ningbo First Hospital was founded in 1913, and was one of Zhejiang's first hospitals. In Zhejiang province, most patients suffering from serous illness choose to receive medical treatment there.
Pao students led the effort to organise this charity cycling event. With the assistance of parents, they found a site in Pudong to hold the event - a park not yet open to the public. Local officials agreed to let Pao students use the park because the cycling event was for charity purposes.
The cycling route is along the Huangpu River: half on Qiantan Avenue and in the park, across from Xuhui Riverside.
More than 300 people registered for the event, and nearly 500 participated. Students felt very happy about this strong outcome.
On the event day, the Pao student work team arrived at 7:30 to begin setting up
Parents lend a hand
Students sign in at the event
Pao School Year 8 students Sam Hu and Viola Ni hosted the event in both Chinese and English.
Headmaster Wu Zijian (left) speaking
Shi Yonglei, a major supporter of charity projects, provided supplies for the event and also rode for 50 km
SPS students led the ride clad in Pao School Run-A-Away Club attire. Here they wait for Headmaster Wu to blow the whistle to mark the start of the ride.
Many students' younger classmates also participated.
How can we ensure their safety?
There's no need to worry; we have signs at each key exit to make sure people don't get lost.
Many families participated too:
This family has matching outfits
9 student Angel Zhang and her father
Year 8 student Elisabeth Teng and Year 4 students Felix Teng, Daisy Wu and Judy Zhao with their parents
Year 2 parent Allen Lueth is a cycling expert
Some Secondary Division students:
Year 9 student Lousia Lou, Event VI designer
Year 8 student Viola Ni, Pao School work team leader
Sam Hu and Jacky Zhu from the Work Team stay cool while riding for charity
Year 6 student Jessica Du is in charge of name checking the distance participants cycled
Year 10 student Johnson Du and Year 8 student Hank Cui supervise water supplies
Jessica Du and Johnson Du (brother and sister) take their work seriously.
They received quite a few cash donations onsite.
Group photo: Headmaster Wu (fourth from right) Ye Qidong, head of the Ningbo First Hospital Department of Paediatrics (first from right) , sponsor Alex (fifth from right) and some participants.
The Pao School Work Team included the following students: Jessica Du (Year 6); Michael Li (Year 7); Viola Ni, Penny Wang, Jerry Du, Sam Hu, Hank Cui (Year 8); Louisa Lou, Andrew Zhou (Year 9); Johnson Du (Year 10). They worked hard planning and organising the event. What is exceptional is how they cooperated with four other schools, improving their teamwork skills and ability to look at things from the perspective of others. Many volunteers also helped out on that day, ensuring the event was a great success.
We would like to give our thanks to Ningbo First Hospital, the Shanghai Qiantan International Business Park Management Co., the Shanghai Laiyifen Co., the Max Shanghai Race Team, Trek Bike and Insight Adventures for their support and donations. Pao School provided the tables, chairs, tents and some other supplies for the event.
A small amount of charity work can do a great deal of good. Combining fitness and philanthropy in a way that makes a substantive difference in the lives of those in need is in line with Pao School's mission of whole-person education and its core values of compassion, integrity and balance. Together, we can work to help others to live happier, healthier lives.
Writer: Viola Ni, Year 8
