Cycling across China to share the gift of life

Wang cycles in front of Qianmen Gate in Beijing. [Photo/China Daily]

While the number of people signing up to be organ donors is growing fast, it is still far from enough. About 300,000 Chinese are on the waiting lists for transplants, but only about 10,000 receive operations each year.

During his journey in June, Wang often stopped to talk and hand out fliers about organ donation.

Not everyone approved. Some suspected he was involved in organ trafficking, while many senior citizens still believe in the Chinese tradition of burying the dead intact.

It is a question of personal ethics whether someone wants to donate their organs after death, said Liu Yuan, organ donation coordinator at Beijing You'an Hospital.

To Wang's surprise, some patients criticized him for "riding simply to make a name for himself", after he began crowdfunding online to support his journey.

However, Wang's family and friends support him and say they are proud that he chooses to ignore the naysayers.

Wang said he only tries to celebrate how transplant patients recover and regain their confidence, as he did.

"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."