People in Xuzhou have raised more than 100,000 yuan ($14,500) to help pay for medical treatment for the American founder of an orphanage, according to Jiangsu media.
Cindy Sayre, a 58-year-old volunteer from Texas, the United States, along with her 62-year-old husband Robert, founded the orphanage Xuzhou Home of Hope in cooperation with Xuzhou Social Welfare Institute in 2005.
Robert has been in China for 18 years, and he used to be a middle school teacher in the US before retirement. In the past 12 years, the orphanage has adopted more than 40 orphans. Most of the Sayres’ income, about 2 million yuan ($290,000), was spent on the daily expenses of the orphanage.
Three years ago, Cindy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because her medical insurance is tied to the United States, Cindy must pay for treatment in Chinese hospitals and due to the seriousness of the disease, she cannot return to the US for treatment.
Their Chinese son-in-law Xue Feng happened to mention the situation to his friends. Unexpectedly, one of them posted the matter online and soon Cindy received help from people of all walks of life in Xuzhou.
