More than 400 children at the China Welfare Institute Nursery and their parents held a charity auction and sale Friday to raise 91,590 yuan (US$12,900) to help a sick girl Jin Jing who is suffering from leukemia.

All 470 children in the nursery brought in toys for the charity sale and there were nine items donated by parents which were also auctioned off at Friday's fund raiser.

"We hope the children at our nursery will show more interest in needy people after the activity," said a teacher surnamed Zhou. "With proper guidance, children are very willing to show love."

Jin Jing is a six-year-old girl who was diagnosed with leukemia in February. Her family had already owed 50,000 yuan and could not afford the medical bills.

After the nursery talked about Jin to the children, they were keen to become involved, said young mother Li Hong. "My son told me he would give his toys to help the little sister," Li said, who was deeply moved.

Li thought it was more meaningful to hold a fundraiser like this than to ask parents to donate cash.

The children spent a happy afternoon on the lawn choosing toys, priced from 50 to 200 yuan and ranging from toy cars to stuffed animals.

(Shanghai Daily March 29, 2008)