Chinese student’s comics about her cancer raise US$30,000 for medical bills after Weibo appeal
- Thousands praise 21-year-old’s illustrated diaries about her Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the loss of her father
- Donations help family make up shortfall after she endures chemotherapy 30 times and radiotherapy 20 times
An internet appeal has raised 200,000 yuan (US$30,000) to help fund a Chinese student’s cancer treatment after her university posted her colourful diaries about her illness on social media to draw attention to her plight.
The illustrated diaries by 21-year-old Sun Ying – who has an advanced stage of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has also lost her father to cancer since her diagnosis – have been praised by thousands online, including fellow cancer patients.
A student at Henan Normal University in Xinxiang in central China, Sun was diagnosed in April 2015 when she was preparing for her university entrance examination after finishing high school, Beijing Youth Daily reported.
“I have been in critical condition a few times, and [each time] I was close to the god of death but was rescued,” Sun told the newspaper. “I hope this world loves me more. Please help me. I truly want to live on.”
An oil painting student, Sun has kept lighthearted diaries in the form of cartoons to chronicle her experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment, and shared them in a chat group for cancer sufferers on social platform WeChat to encourage others to remain positive.
