Lei Feng Day marked with volunteer work

Wang Rongjiang / SHINE

Wang Rongjiang / SHINE

Ti Gong

Wang Rongjiang / SHINE

A VOLUNTEER event was held at Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall to honor China’s altruist icon Lei Feng. Dozens of volunteers including government officials and soldiers offered to cut hair, repair broken umbrellas, trim clothes besides providing medical and legal consultation — all for free.

Lei, who was a soldier and died at the age of 21 in August 1962, was known for his tireless spirit in helping people in need during his spare time. Late Chairman Mao Zedong wrote “Learn from Comrade Lei Feng” on March 5, 1963. Since then, March 5 is celebrated as a special day across the nation. In fact, the day is officially called the “Learn from Lei Feng Day.”

The event on Nanjing Road was one of the many volunteer activities held across the city yesterday.

Doctors from Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, along with Shanghai University of TCM, held a medical consultation fair in Jingwu Sports Park in Hongkou District.

Various volunteer events were held in Zhongshan and Luxun parks.

About 300 soldiers from the Shanghai Garrison Command, Nanjing Military Region of People’s Liberation Army donated blood in the morning. For over 10 years, the Shanghai Garrison Command has been organizing blood donation drive among soldiers.

The Nanjing Road event is one of the oldest and the most well known volunteer events in Shanghai. It is held on the 20th of every month and also on March 5. In 1982, Tao Yijia, a shop assistant in a pharmacy on Nanjing Road, started the volunteer service. Over the years, more and more volunteers joined her.

There are more than 3.5 million registered volunteers in Shanghai.