Fund established to protect E China's Good Samaritans

Good Samaritans in east China's Suzhou City will no longer have to worry about being blackmailed when they help the elderly thanks to a new fund.

In recent years, stories of people blackmailed by senior citizens have generated headlines. Stories abound of Good Samaritans helping elderly people to their feet following a fall, only to be rewarded with extortion attempts from the senior citizens.

A "Conscience Public Fund," the first of its kind in China, has been established in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It was set up by the non-governmental organization LoveZone and a local volunteer organization.

The fund will pay the medical bills of the injured senior citizen and provide legal assistance to clarify legal responsibility in controversial cases.

"I hope that through this fund, we will help encourage charitable causes in China," said Zhuang Zhi, who helped with the fundraising. Endi