Woman returns crowdfunding donations for sick son

A woman from Huoshan county of Liuan city, Anhui province, has returned all the money donated through a crowdfunding platform for her son, who was sick with acute leukemia five years ago, Wuhan-based Jimu News reported.

"Now we have made it through the toughest days, so we returned the money to donors with gratitude," Hu, the boy's mother said.

Shuidichou, the crowdfunding platform that Hu used to seek donations, confirmed to Jimu News on Sunday that all the money raised, totaling nearly 590,000 yuan ($81,451), have been returned to the donors.

According to the information Hu published on the crowdfunding platform when seeking financial aid, her 15-year-old son was diagnosed with acute leukemia after taking the high school entrance exam in June 2019. The disease made her son unable to attend school and Hu and her husband, who earned a modest income, could not afford the high medical expenses.

In 2019 and 2020 Hu launched two fundraising projects raising 589,092 yuan from 28,689 donors collectively. Her son has been proactive in receiving treatment while she and her husband worked hard to earn money. The boy has since returned to campus and is now a senior in high school. As a result, Hu decided to return the money to the warmhearted donors.

After learning about Hu's move, many netizens expressed their good wishes for the family on her social media account. "Debts should be repaid, perfectly right and proper," Hu said. Due to the large amount, she said, part of the returned money was borrowed from relatives and friends, and the family will work hard to repay the debt.