Chinese vendors donate day’s earnings to cancer-stricken colleague

The beneficiary was Zhang Jianwu, a 50-year-old vendor who had sold pan-fried meat cakes on the busy food street until he closed his stall to begin treatment for kidney cancer, according to a report by Fuzhou Daily.

Zhang’s family turned to social media after struggling to meet rising medical costs, and the appeal was widely shared by university students, helping the story gain traction locally.

On December 10, stall holders on the street — including vendors selling buns, desserts and drinks — agreed to donate all revenue for the day to Zhang. 

To do so, they replaced their own mobile payment QR codes with his, ensuring payments were transferred directly to his bank account.

Some stalls offered discounts of up to 20% to encourage sales, while notices posted at counters explained the fundraising effort. Customers were told that all proceeds would go towards Zhang’s medical treatment.

The initiative drew long queues throughout the day, particularly from students. Several vendors reported higher-than-usual sales, with some customers paying more than the listed prices.

A steamed bun seller surnamed Gao said his stall raised more than 1,000 yuan in a single day. He described Zhang as a hardworking vendor who often spent long hours at his stall to support his family.

The campaign attracted attention on mainland social media, where users praised the collective action by the vendors and students. Some commenters said they planned to visit the street specifically to contribute.

Zhang’s wife, Gong, said the family received about 20,000 yuan in total from the one-day effort. “This is a huge help for us,” she was quoted as saying. “With everyone’s support, my husband has more confidence to continue treatment.”

Local officials later said community groups were helping the family explore additional financial assistance, as Zhang remains in the hospital.