Listeners crowd the place at a event aimed at helping children with congenital heart diseases, jointly held by China's largest search engine Baidu, charitable organization Ai You Foundation and China Radio International's bilingual radio service Easy FM in downtown Beijing on Saturday, June 1, 2013. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Fu Yu]

 

　　On this year's children's day, China's largest search engine Baidu, charitable organization Ai You Foundation and China Radio International's bilingual radio service Easy FM jointly launched an event to help children with congenital heart diseases.

 

　　CRI's XYee has more.

 

　　Currently 37 children involved with the Ai You project are awaiting heart surgery. Founded in 2006, the Ai You Foundation has aided more than 16,000 children with heart diseases.

 

　　Lu Xiaomei, Business Development Director at the Ai You Foundation, says through their efforts, children with congenital heart diseases can live just like normal people.

 

　　"Almost all the simple congenital heart diseases can be cured, and children can live a normal life after surgery. Each family revolves around their children, and if the children get sick, it will be a big blow to them, especially so to work-class and rural families. We are not doing much, but a little kindness may change a child or a family's entire life."

 

　　To raise people's awareness of the children in need, Baidu teamed up with the Ai You Foundation to donate money for children's surgical operations.

 

　　But Baidu has much further visions than just calling people's attention and donating money. Liu Dong with the Baidu Charity elaborates.

 

　　"Many children don't get surgeries until they are three or four years old, and they cannot receive education because of their heart problems. Some can't even talk properly at five or six. There are also poor families that don't have much left after their children's surgery. What we do now only gives them a chance to live, but they will need help in later life as well. I hope there will be a long-term plan for them soon."

 

　　To help Baidu raise more money, radio hosts Xiaofei and Yu Zhou from China Radio International's Easy Fm were going live in downtown Beijing and doing a special program of their show Easy Morning.

 

　　Yu Zhou was giving away autographs to encourage people to take part in donations.

 

　　Many are hoping to pass along their good wishes to the sick children through pictures. Li Zheng, an engineer working in the railways is one of them.

 

　　"I uploaded a picture of a smiling face. I would be really glad if it could help the children. Many people are out during children's day, and I hope this event can raise their awareness for the situation."

 

　　The event eventually ends but not the efforts, both Baidu and Ai You Foundation are reaching out to help more children, and many listeners at the scene said they will continue to do their part whenever possible.

 

　　For CRI, I'm XYee.