In November of last year, the Beijing community came together to help Tristan Starobynski, a young former Beijing expat who had been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, get the help he needed with a one-hour dance workout fundraiser at International School of Beijing (ISB), the school Tristan attended. Aplastic anemia is a serious medical condition in which a person’s bone marrow doesn’t produce enough new blood cells.

On Sat, May 17, Eudora Station in Lido will host a heartfelt benefit concert in memory of Tristan, a beloved individual whose life touched many before his passing on Mar 27. The event, running from 5pm into the evening, promises an unforgettable night of music, love, and community as friends, family, and supporters gather to celebrate Tristan’s legacy.

The concert will feature live performances by talented artists, including Greg Luttrell, Dooder, and other special guests. Through their music, they aim to honor Tristan’s spirit, creating a space where attendees can reflect, connect, and find solace in shared memories.

All proceeds will go toward Tristan’s medical expenses, helping to honor his memory by alleviating the financial burden on his family. The organizers have suggested a donation of RMB 200, though attendees are encouraged to contribute more if possible. For those unable to attend but wishing to support, a convenient QR code is provided for direct contributions.

This concert is more than just a fundraiser – it’s a celebration of Tristan’s life and the impact he had on those around him. By uniting people through music, the event embodies the power of community and the enduring bonds that Tristan helped forge.

Let’s honor Tristan’s memory by standing together in love and solidarity.

When: Sat, May 17, starting at 5pm
Where: Eudora Station (Lido)

Find it:
6 Fangyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区芳园西路6号

Images: 

Dear Beijing community,

We are reaching out to you about an urgent matter. Tristan Starobynski, a 10-year-old former Beijing expat, has been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a serious medical condition in which the bone marrow doesn’t produce enough new blood cells. He is currently in the hospital relying on specialized treatments to fight this tough battle.

Before moving to Hanoi, Vietnam, the Starobynskis lived and worked in Beijing and were beloved members of the International School of Beijing (ISB) community. Mom Clare taught elementary school at ISB, and dad Tom ran the fitness center at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) before joining Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS) Shunyi where he taught PE.

Tristan has been medically evacuated to the nearest fully equipped hospital in Bangkok where they’re working on providing him with the life-saving care that he needs. But medical emergencies are extremely costly, and the family is now facing a heavy financial burden. To help, they’ve started a Go Fund Me page. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will bring Tristan closer to getting the treatment he desperately needs.

In addition to donations, members of the Beijing community are also organizing a dance workout on Nov 27 at ISB to help raise money for Tristan’s treatment.

Sign up for the hour-long workout and get fit for a good cause. There will be raffle sales and special treats, and all the proceeds will go directly to Tristan’s family to cover his medical expenses.

Over the years, many of us in the expat community have gotten to know and adore the Starobynski family, whether it’s through the kids, the way Clare and Tom have inspired the kids in the international school community, or Clare and Tom’s 20+ years of love and dedication to their marriage.

Let’s come together as a community. Show your love and support for Tristan. Our collective efforts can make a huge difference in his life and give his family hope during this difficult time. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Find it:
International School of Beijing (ISB) Upper Dance Studio
10 Anhua Jie, Shunyi District
顺义区安华街10号

Images: Clare Starobynski

Earlier this month, a group of grade 7 and 8 students from International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB) organized a Walk for Rescues Fundraiser where they dressed up in animal costumes and walked 3km around the school track on campus.

Why animal costumes, you ask? Why because the fundraiser was in honor of local animal rescue group Furry Tales!

The students had hoped to raise at least RMB 5,000 for the expat-led charity, and they far exceeded their goal! They had to overcome the daunting challenges of soliciting donations in person. 12-year-old Charis Chiu said that “it was uncomfortable to ask for money” but that just had to summon the courage to approach them and explain to the people what the money was going to be used for, all while putting on her cutest smile. Clearly, it worked!

Animal rescue is a familiar issue for students Ariel Wang, Jingmae Cramsie, and Julia Jaskulska, who were key players in this successful fundraiser. All three have their own rescue pets who have been in their families for years now. Other students in the class who did not have their own pets still share a common affection for all things furry, which was why the students decided on supporting the cause of animal rescue, after considering several different charitable causes.

Ariel Wang (13) with her rescue dog Ben

Jingmae Cramsie (13) with her rescue dog Dakota

Julia Jaskulska (12) with her 4 rescue cats

Moving forward, the students are keen to continue organizing fundraising events. Grade 7/8 Lead Teacher Kristen Fraser had said that “We would like to continue to support Furry Tales as it is a local charity, and we can see the real difference it makes in Beijing. For our next fundraising event we are thinking of doing an Art Auction.” We wholeheartedly support the students in their charitable ambitions and can’t wait to see what they come up with next time!

KEEP READING: Furry Tales: Introducing Beijing’s Latest Pet Rescue Group

Images: Courtesy of MSB

Got a sweet tooth? I know I’m always up for some tasty treats, especially if they’re homemade with high-quality ingredients and a dash of love.

Dessert lovers all over Beijing are no strangers to Camilla Kongshavn, the admin of numerous Sweet Cravings WeChat groups where local bakers share their creations. But Kongshavn’s passion isn’t just baking desserts – she’s also a philanthropist who seeks out every opportunity to help those around her.

Her latest endeavor is aimed at a friend in need. On March 24, Kongshavn launched her appeal to foodie groups all over Beijing, writing:

“Helping my best friend in need, therefore offering healthier gummy candies to anyone who wishes to try them to support this. All proceeds from the candies go to her. She’s in a very difficult position and has high expenses to pay to be able to stay, if she can’t pay within Apr 1, she will be forced to leave China.

Four flavors in one box, They are fruity, flavorful, refreshing, and more acidic as that’s what I personally love in gummy candy. Made with 100 percent HPP fruit juice, a cold high-pressure method to preserve the great nutrients of the juices for as long as possible. The most important part is that it is nontoxic preparation while making these. Designed for my candy-loving daughter and a better option for anyone else with candy-loving toddlers.”

Each box of these luxury gummies is RMB 100. Flavors include strawberry, mango, pomegranate, and mulberry.

“Regarding the delivery, I can’t specify a date yet because Covid restrictions are making it difficult to predict the arrival of boxes needed for packaging. They’re only able to try and send them today. I couldn’t wait for this fundraiser candy-making since the funds are urgently needed for my friend.

I will create a candy group for those who ordered to keep everyone updated and hope they’ll all be sent by next week” says Kongshavn.

Kongshavn will be making all the gummy candies this coming week. Each box is 8.3×11.5cm. The exact number of gummies that’ll fit in each box will vary, but it’ll contain one big bag that’s filled to the top.

“If I have to take a rough guess, it equals to three of these bags [in the photo below],” says Kongshavn.

To order, scan the QR code below and get in touch with Kongshavn directly.

KEEP READING: Share a #MomStory and Lend a Helping Hand

Images: Camilla Kongshavn, Pexels

When Zhang Yuxi grows up, he wants to join the Special Forces in the military, because, in his words, “they protect people.” He may be only in Grade 3 now, but he has already started taking small steps towards realising his dream, for example by reading more than 100 books in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series (the original edition has more than 1,500 pages) and running every day. His confidence is clear on video, and I’m not surprised to learn he is a leo, born in the Year of the Snake.

A child of Mongolia, Yuxi is one of the primary school students currently studying at Dandelion School, the first and only school for low-income migrant families in Beijing. Established in August 2005, it is a non-profit and charitable educational institution located in Daxing. Originally a middle school, Dandelion recently expanded to include primary school students around 7-9 years old, in March of this year. The school’s students are migrant children from more than 20 provinces around China, mostly Hebei and Henan.

Dandelion’s purpose is to achieve equality and excellency in education and secure a bright future for this marginalised group of children. The school is credited “AAAAA,” which is the highest rating of business management achievable for non-profit organizations. Dandelion also provides support to school students who face financial challenges. Every year, they waive the tuition fee of nearly 10 percent of their student body according to their family income level. In some cases, when a parent is stricken with severe sickness, the school may even help connect them with potential donors to give extra support.

Beyond government funding, the school enlists corporate and individual support to provide quality education and nurture good character in their students. Dandelion can only achieve its success through a long-term approach to encouraging physical, intellectual and emotional growth, by discovering and developing their students’ potential, and by building lifelong learning habits in students. Only then can their graduates go out and make the world a better place, like how 9-year-old Yuxi hopes to join the military forces and protect people.

We have a great opportunity to help this child realize his dream, and to support Dandelion School’s noble cause, all while standing the chance of winning some attractive prizes! This year, for the third time, Dandelion School was carefully selected from more than 12 charities to be the recipient of Chi Fan For Charity (CFFC) fundraiser. Tickets may be sold out but you and I can still join in the fun by purchasing raffle tickets at the CFFC Raffle! I myself am gunning for the top two prizes – a week-long cruise to Sanya and a private guided tour of Guilin – but there are plenty of prizes to go around. Check out the full list here, and don’t forget there will be 216 winners, so those are some good odds!

KEEP READING: Chifan For Charity: Filling Bellies and Hearts Since 2009

Images: Courtesy of Dandelion School, CFFC 

It is the one greatest fear of any parent – that your child’s health and very life are in danger. An expat mother, who wishes to keep her family’s identity private, is urgently asking for your help in raising funds to treat her 1.5-year-old son, who was diagnosed with viral encephalitis on Wednesday, Oct 27.

The child, nicknamed Little A, had been suffering from seizures for some time and was admitted into an international hospital for testing to determine the cause. He was given a lumbar puncture test, in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canal to draw a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. Unfortunately, that sample gave strong evidence for the diagnosis of viral encephalitis. Viral encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that leads to swelling of brain tissue, and the worst potential complication is permanent brain damage.

Little A’s mother remembers him as “such a smiley boy who could still giggle and find joy when he was sick in the hospital.” She just wants him to recover and go back to being healthy and happy. He had celebrated his first birthday six months ago, and his potential for life was just beginning when this sickness hit, now threatening the sanctity of his future.

The lumbar puncture test alone cost RMB 15,000, and the bills are piling up quickly. The medical fees for Little A’s treatment are currently estimated to be RMB 200,000. Within the first few hours of this tragic news reaching our phones, an incredible outpouring of support helped to raise over RMB 60,000. But more is still needed, so if you are able and willing to donate, please scan the QR code below. There is also a WeChat group that has been formed to provide updates on Little A’s situation, which you can ask to join.

In China, the incidence of Japanese encephalitis, which is spread most commonly through viruses carried by mosquitoes, is higher than any other mosquito-borne disease. There are approximately 33,900 cases of JEV every year, with most of them occurring in rural areas surrounded by irrigation farming. On the other hand, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has been shown to be endemic in northern and western China, including the mountainous areas of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang.

KEEP READING: Chifan For Charity: Filling Bellies and Hearts Since 2009

Images courtesy of the organizers

Honestly, there’s nothing we love more than watching Beijing’s community come together for a good cause, and the latest fundraising event to sweep the city is Community Rocks, a competition event organized by Prime, ActivTogether, Hooah, F45, and Jindafit, set to take place at CrossFit Slash on Sep. 4. The event will help raise money to purchase a running prosthesis for Ricardo Allgayer, a Brazilian CrossFit athlete hoping to compete in the 2022 CrossFit Games.

Ricardo Allgayer

The competition will be divided into two categories: Heavy Load Warriors, which will feature more complex and technical workouts, and Light Weight Fighters, which will be focused on body weight and cardio, while also serving as a point of entry for folks outside the CrossFit circle.

If you can’t make it to the competition on Sep 4, don’t sweat it, as the fundraising continues with Fitness Palooza – a full week of pop-up workouts at CrossFit Slash. Each class will feature a unique workout run by an experienced trainer.

Allgayer’s story:
In 2004 Ricardo Allgayer suffered a motorbike accident, resulting in the amputation of his right leg. While getting a limb removed would doubtlessly hit anyone hard, it was particularly devastating for Allgayer, whose entire identity had been based on sports and a richly active lifestyle.

After taking a few years off from sports, he eventually made his way back, joining the Brazilian wheelchair handball team and clinching the World Cup. Then, in 2015, he joined CrossFit and never looked back. Today, Allgayer serves as the Brazilian Ambassador of Adaptive CrossFit and is currently training for the 2022 CrossFit Games.

Fitness Palooza takes place Sep 6-11 and is open to anyone who’s interested. If you’ve never dabbled in any of these fitness classes before, it’s a great chance to get some first-hand experience and also make some new friends. CrossFit Slash graciously volunteered its space and all of the classes will be held there.

SCHEDULE:
Sep 6 Monday – ActivTogether with Angel – 5pm
Sep 7 Tuesday – CrossFit Slash with Cabbage –  6pm
Sep 8 Wednesday  – Jindafit with D’Jack – 6pm
Sep 9 Thursday – Clubbell with Victor from PRIME –  6pm
Sep 10 Friday  – F45 workout with Kate – 6pm
Sep 11 Saturday – Hooah with Leon – 10am

*Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the class

To sign up for the competition, Fitness Palooza, or simply to donate to the cause, scan the QR code below.

KEEP READING: Doctor Fitness – Conquering Medicine and Fitness

Images: Courtesy of organizer

One of the things that make living in Beijing so unique is the sense of community amongst expats. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, here, we’re all foreigners and we’re all navigating our way through the ins and outs of the city together. It’s that sense of community that makes life in Beijing truly unique.

Recently one expat mom has taken on the challenge of raising money to help a fellow mom send her beloved pup Mila to the UK.

Meet Mila

Mila is a mixed-breed rescue dog who was just two months old when she was found abandoned on the streets of Beijing. It took time for Mila to feel comfortable with her new family. “When we took her in, she was terrified of people and would hide under my arm. Any food given to her was inhaled because she wasn’t sure when she would get her next meal. Now she’s grown into a calm and confident dog.”, says dog mom Nina Sharma. “While living in China, we were able to give her a home. Now that we have left Beijing, we don’t want her to end up at the dog shelter or homeless again. We are trying to fundraise for her export cost so she can move to the UK and stay with us permanently.”

To help Mila get to her fur-ever home, fellow Beijing mom Camila Kongshavn is using her culinary skills to help raise money.

Recently Kongshavn’s Instagram blew up with photos of her latest cake creations. Each is hand made with love, and each shows the thought and dedication this Beijing Wonderwoman puts into her work.

“I would like your help to bake for Mila, an attempt at getting closer to the amount they need to get her back home.”, says Kongshavn. “I’m offering a little metal tray of my carrot cake make with organic Ceylon cinnamon from Sri Lanka, Madagascar whole Burbon vanilla beans, and my homemade toasted caramel nut crumble with cream cheese frosting made with ingredients from New Zealand and Australis for RMB 120 including shipping as long as you live within or very close to the fourth ring road.” All proceeds, minus ingredients and shipping costs, will go towards Mila’s trip home.

So many carrot cakes, so little time

Kongshavn will continue her fundraising bake sale until Jun 1.

To get in touch with Kongshavn for carrot cake (or just to donate to Mila get home) contact her by scanning the QR code below.

Each carrot cake is approximately 500 – 600g and will be delivered between Jun 6 – 7 depending on the quantity of order. And just to be clear, these are carrot cakes for humans. Sorry pups, no noms for you this time.

Currently, Mila’s also looking for a flight volunteer, someone who’s willing to take the little pup abroad when they travel. COVID-19 has made international travel difficult for people and finding someone to be flight volunteers has become an even bigger challenge than before. If anyone is traveling from Beijing to Paris or Amsterdam and is willing to help get Mila to her fur-ever home, contact Sharma via WeChat (ID: Nina_3107).

Mila has had all her shots and proper documents and requires just three days prior notice to travel.

KEEP READING: The Way to the Forever Home: Becoming a Dog Flight Volunteer 

Photos: Camila Kongshavn

Across Beijing, students in the international school community have been doing what they do best — coming up with ways to help those in need — with spectacular results.

At Dulwich College Beijing (DCB), students used the power of art to raise an astonishing RMB 12,500 within roughly one week, which they used to purchase 500 medical masks that went to healthcare professionals on the frontlines at Suizhou Zengdu Hospital in Hubei Province on Feb 18.

The initiative, which took place between late January and early February, and was led by DCB’s two Year 12 Art Prefects, Mark W. and Olivia W., asked for donations of RMB 30 or above. In return, those who made donations received a box of illustrations and goodies made by the school’s talented art students.

Mark W. and Olivia W.

“As an art lover, it was painful to feel that something I was so passionate about is so fruitless in helping people during such a difficult time,” Olivia W. tells beijingkids. “Having thought about the real value of art I contacted my friend, Mark, who shares my passion in the hopes of helping those who are struggling, through the form of art. We were and still are unable to return to school so with all the spare time on our hands we did what we love to do the most: create art. And in turn, did the most we could to help something that seemed so foreign yet so dear to us. It was so gratifying to see something so special to us be of help to others during tormenting times.”

When asked about the incredible support their project was met with, Mark W. says that, “Olivia and I were extremely surprised that we were able to raise such a large sum of money in such a short period of time. One of the biggest surprises was how quickly we surpassed the RMB 1,000 mark. Within hours of us starting the fundraiser, we had already received way over what we thought the whole fundraiser would earn. Every time we thought we had reached the maximum amount of donations, more and more would come pouring in. I think this just goes to show how kindhearted and generous the community we live in is.”

What’s more, the importance of art, and its role in helping communities overcome trauma certainly isn’t lost on these thoughtful individuals.

As Mark W. explains, “To me, art’s the perfect way to bring together a community. No matter your age, the language you speak or the background you come from, art is something you can relate to; it’s the perfect way of bringing together the complex and diverse community that we live in. What’s so special about art is everyone is able to take something away from the art piece. Art has no one sole meaning like other mediums such as reading. Everyone can incorporate their own experiences and past into their interpretations of the artwork, making everyone’s interpretation unique and special to themselves. Art therefore is a great form of healing and therapy. It helps to bring a positive and more light-hearted mindset to people during difficult times. It’s something that tends to the individual on a personal scale, so I think art is a great way of restoring a divided and fractured community emotionally.”

As the old adage goes, the children are our future, and as students like Mark W. and Olivia W. continue to dedicate themselves to heartfelt and selfless initiatives such as this, we can all rest assured that Beijing will come out of COVID-19 stronger than ever.

Photos: Courtesy of Dulwich College Beijing