Cycling across China to share the gift of life

[Photo provided to China Daily]

"I don't try to force people to donate, I only tell people how many lives have been saved by others donating their organs."

His hard work has moved others. Some street vendors give him fruits and water; bike stores offer free repairs; and doctors give him handouts.

Earlier this month, he was named an "Ambassador for Organ Donation" by China Organ Transplant, an NGO comprising thousands of transplant patients.

"I am very proud of him," said Chen Lei, the organization's founder and a liver transplant patient.

China started performing organ transplants in the 1960s. According to the China Organ Transplant Development Foundation, 10,058 transplants were performed in 2015, ranking China second in the world after the United States.

Since China launched an organ donation system in 2010, about 10,000 people have donated 28,000 vital organs upon their death.

This year alone, more than 170,000 people have signed up to a donor registry created by the foundation, including Wang.

He said he dreams of forming a cycling team with other transplant patients.

"I can't work alone. Raising awareness requires everyone's efforts," he said.

"But I will keep on riding and passing on the love."

Xinhua