Fundraiser responds to doubt on donations for 'ice boy'

A local fundraising group in Yunnan has responded to online concerns that the child known by some as 'ice boy' hasn't received the charitable donations being sent in by people, reports the Beijing News.

Wang Fuman arrives in class with his hair frozen after a 4.5-kilometer walk to his school in Ludian County, Yunnan Province, on January 8, 2018. [Photo: IC]

Third grader Wang Fuman was pictured with his hair coated with ice after his daily 4.5-km walk from his home to his primary school of Ludian County in southwest China's Yunnan Province on January 8, when temperatures were minus-9 degrees.

After his picture was posted online by his teacher, the young boy became an internet sensation, nicknamed 'ice boy' by many online, who also expressed their willing to help the child out.

On the following day, the Yunnan Youth Development Foundation launched a public fund-raising campaign called "Warming the Winter."

The gate of the Zhuanshanbao Primary School of Ludian County, Yunnan Province, is covered in ice, January 8, 2018. [Photo: IC]

According to the foundation's official website, a total of 2.79 million yuan (434,000 USD) worth of donations have been collected by January 15, 2018.

However, some are now complaining after learning the boy has only received 500 yuan.

The foundation has explained that the campaign plans to allocate 500 yuan per person to poor, left-behind children who live in regions which cope with low winter low temperatures. The group says its specific donations will be publicized on its website.

Students at the Zhuanshanbao Primary School in Ludian County, Yunnan Province, gather to receive donations on January 10, 2018. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The first batch of 100,000 yuan has already been delivered to rural schools, including the Zhuanshanbao Primary School which 'ice boy' attends.

"People must have misunderstood the program, which is not only for the boy, but for more local children like him," said Chen Furong, director of education bureau of Ludian County.

"There are thousands of children studying in 45 schools at an altitude of above 2,000 meters across Ludian County," Chen added.

Local authorities plan to offer gloves, coats, hats and winter shoes to these students, as well as install heating furnaces in the classrooms.