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Chinese children reach out to quake victims
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Beijing preschooler Song Qinhao spent more than one hour selling her toys at a flea market last Sunday.

"Would you take this teddy bear for two yuan (28 U.S. cents)?" the five-year-old would ask anyone who passed by her stand on the campus of Beijing University.

The sticker and yellow ribbon on her shirt explained it was a charity sale to raise funds for those who lost their homes in the May 12 quake in the southwestern Sichuan Province.

"If you buy this, the money you pay will be donated to Sichuan so that boys and girls there will get food and clothes," Song explained to anyone who questioned her motive. The girl's eloquence even surprised her mother, a Beijing school teacher.

At least 10 people opened their wallets -- university students, teachers, tourists and even a junkman. Everyone paid more than the two yuan she asked for.

At the end of the sale, Song sold 10 items and took in nearly 100 yuan, which she proudly put into the charity box.

About 180 children, aged from three to 11, joined the charity sale organized by Xiaomayi.com.cn, a Beijing-based outdoor club for children.

"They collected more than 14,000 yuan," said Zuo Zhenchao, organizer of the event. "We have remitted the money to China Charity Federation for quake relief."

Before the charity sale, Zuo said he held a candlelight vigil with the children to mourn the quake dead and made paper storks -- the auspicious bird symbolizing long life and health -- for the survivors.

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