Brother Tiger and His 125 Days’ Fight Against COVID-19

when I got into contact with Zhang Kai,also known as “Brother Tiger,” he was busy sterilizing and disinfecting in Beijing with more than 30 members of his team.

On February 18,Zhang Kai led his volunteer team to Wuhan to help transport anti-epidemic materials and COVID-19 patients,where he stayed offering volunteering service for nearly two months.Since then,they have continued their epidemic-fighting trip nationwide to Suifenhe of Heilongjiang Province,Shulan of Jilin Province,and Beijing.Many of them have been away from home for more than 100 days.

Zhang Kai has spent a total of 780,000 yuan on this epidemic fighting trip,and he has no regrets: “When we have no money,we can always make more.Yet as long as the epidemic is not gone,we won’t be able to live in peace.”

To Wuhan

50-year-old Zhang Kai is a native of Suifenhe.After he was demobilized from the army,he first worked in a public security department and then went to Dongguan of Guangdong Province,south of China to do business in 1997.He resides in Hongmei Town of the city.

In 2017,Zhang Kai started a transportation team mainly to provide services for the enterprises in the town,which became the predecessor of his volunteer motorcade.

On January 25,2020,the first day of the Chinese New Year,right after his return from a long distance trip,Zhang Kai began to provide volunteer service with his motorcade for the local battle against COVID-19 in Dongguan.Meanwhile,Zhang Kai was preparing to go to Wuhan,the hardest-hit city then.

He first contacted a local social worker in his town and then got in touch with the local Youth League Committee.On February 13,Zhang Kai received a notice from the Provincial Youth League,offering professional protective training for his volunteer team.Zhang Kai then made a “supporting Wuhan” call in a WeChat group of dirvers,to which more than 20 members responded and joined his team.

On February 18,Zhang Kai’s motorcade set out on their way with permission.Each person drove their own car,and brought their own protective clothing,masks,thermometers,and other materials.They drove for more than 1,100 kilometers and finally arrived in Wuhan.

In Wuhan,the transportation team was mainly responsible for delivering anti-epidemic materials and transferring COVID-19 patients.According to Zhang Kai,anti-epidemic materials and resources were scattered in different areas of the metropolis and even other parts of Hubei Province.They had to go all around to collect these materials and then redistribute them,covering dozens or even hundreds of kilometers back and forth.During this period,volunteers from other parts of the country joined one after another.At most there were more than 90 members on his team.Wang Lidong,a taxi driver from Suifenhe,was one of them.He had driven 3,000 kilometers to Wuhan to join Zhang Kai’s team.

率愛心車隊(duì)逆行武漢、綏芬河、舒蘭和北京 花掉78 萬元在所不惜

Zhang Kai delivering anti-epidemic materials 張凱開車運(yùn)送物資

我聯(lián)系上“虎哥”張凱時(shí)，他正帶著三十多名隊(duì)員，在北京忙消殺。

2月18日，張凱帶領(lǐng)他的“虎哥愛心車隊(duì)”逆行到武漢，幫助運(yùn)送物資、轉(zhuǎn)運(yùn)病人，志愿服務(wù)近兩個(gè)月。此后，他們又跟著疫情跑，先后轉(zhuǎn)戰(zhàn)黑龍江綏芬河、吉林舒蘭和北京，參與疫情防控工作，很多人100 多天沒回家。

張凱為此花費(fèi)了78 萬元，但他說：“錢沒了可以掙，如果疫情不消除，生命可能就無法保障?！?/p>

馳援武漢 一聲號(hào)召眾人響應(yīng)

今年50 歲的張凱是黑龍江省綏芬河市人，退伍后曾在公安部門工作，1997年前往廣東東莞創(chuàng)業(yè)，目前居住在東莞市洪梅鎮(zhèn)。

2017年，張凱成立了一個(gè)車隊(duì)，主要為洪梅鎮(zhèn)的企業(yè)提供服務(wù)。這個(gè)車隊(duì)就是“虎哥愛心車隊(duì)”的最初班底。

今年1月25日是大年初一，剛從外地回到東莞的張凱還沒來得及休息，就帶領(lǐng)車隊(duì)為東莞一線疫情防控人員提供免費(fèi)服務(wù)。同時(shí)，張凱正在籌備著去武漢參與抗疫。

張凱首先聯(lián)絡(luò)了洪梅當(dāng)?shù)氐囊幻鐓^(qū)干部，隨后聯(lián)絡(luò)上當(dāng)?shù)貓F(tuán)委。2月13日，張凱接到廣東團(tuán)省委通知，先組織專業(yè)人士對(duì)愛心車隊(duì)成員進(jìn)行防護(hù)培訓(xùn)，等指揮部正式下達(dá)命令后再前往武漢。他在微信群發(fā)出支援武漢的號(hào)召，有20 多人響應(yīng)并決定加入愛心車隊(duì)。

2月18日，經(jīng)過批準(zhǔn)，張凱帶著他的“虎哥愛心車隊(duì)”，一人一輛車，自備防護(hù)服、口罩、體溫測(cè)試儀等物資，驅(qū)車1100 多公里來到武漢。

在武漢，車隊(duì)主要負(fù)責(zé)搬運(yùn)物資和轉(zhuǎn)送病人等工作。張凱介紹，物資分布在武漢城區(qū)甚至湖北各地，他們要到各地去領(lǐng)取再配送，來回經(jīng)常要跑幾十甚至上百公里。其間，還有全國(guó)其他地方的志愿者陸續(xù)加入，最多時(shí)“虎哥愛心車隊(duì)”有90 多人。最遠(yuǎn)的是綏芬河的出租車司機(jī)王立東，他風(fēng)雪兼程三天三夜，驅(qū)車3000 公里來武漢加入張凱的隊(duì)伍。

繼續(xù)北上 助家鄉(xiāng)綏芬河抗疫

4月8日武漢解封，張凱也率領(lǐng)“虎哥愛心車隊(duì)”駛離武漢。原計(jì)劃完成武漢志愿工作后，與10 名成員前往巴基斯坦打工。不過，想到國(guó)內(nèi)疫情還沒有結(jié)束，特別是家鄉(xiāng)綏芬河市出現(xiàn)了疫情，張凱又改為北上。

“去武漢與去綏芬河，心情是不一樣的，畢竟綏芬河是我的家鄉(xiāng)?！睆垊P說，車隊(duì)還有兩名隊(duì)友是綏芬河人，為了家鄉(xiāng)早日戰(zhàn)勝疫情，他們義不容辭。一方面，他們可以提供更多可供調(diào)度的車輛；另一方面，他們能把武漢的一些防疫經(jīng)驗(yàn)帶到當(dāng)?shù)兀σ咔榉揽亍?/p>

To Suifenhe

On April 8,with the situation getting better and restrictions on outbound traffic lifted in Wuhan,Zhang Kai and his team left this city.His original plan was to work in Pakistan with 10 of his members.However,seeing that the epidemic was still rampant in the country,especially in Suifenhe,his hometown,Zhang Kai changed his mind and headed northward.

“I felt somehow differently when I was heading for Suifenhe,because it is my hometown,” Zhang Kai said.Two teammates were also from Suifenhe,so they feel obligated to help in this battle against the epidemic.They could provide more vehicles for transportation,and they hoped to use some of their experiences in Wuhan to help their hometown as well.

On the afternoon of April 9,Zhang Kai and other two drivers arrived in Suifenhe.Later more of his team members also arrived successively.Given the shortage of personal protective equipment,Zhang Kai appealed online to collect materials such as masks,protective clothing,goggles,disinfectant,hand sanitizer,medical gloves,medical alcohol and etc.

“Our team members and volunteers have been very helpful and have provided a lot of supplies,” Zhang Kai said.No matter which city he was in,there were always local volunteers joining his team.He was moved and motivated by their efforts.

In Suifenhe,Zhang Kai and other volunteers took charge of the sterilizing and disinfecting work in the communities and participated in the construction of mobile cabin hospitals there.They also went to the streets,distributing masks to cleaners and helping deliver materials.

To Shulan

On May 7,a new confirmed case in Shulan broke the 73-day record of zero new confirmed cases of Jilin Province.By 24:00 of May 13,the number of new confirmed cases increased to 14 in just a few days,which lifted the city’s risk level to high and made it the center of attention for the whole country.

At that time,Zhang Kai and his team members were helping at Hongqi Hospital in Mudanjiang City of Helongjiang Province.Reading the latest epidemic news,Zhang Kai and other six members turned to Shulan.

“When we arrived in Shulan,many shops were closed and few pedestrians were seen on the street,” Zhang Kai told us.There he recruited another 30 volunteers and everyone supported him.

“We normally worked from 6 am to 6 pm every day,sterilizing 80% of the communities in Shulan once a day,” said Zhang Kai.Though exhausted,they were content to see the situation there getting better and better.

As a new COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing occurred recently,Zhang Kai and his team went all the way to Beijing.After receiving the nucleic acid test,they immediately started to work,helping with sterilizing and disinfecting.

780,000 yuan spent in 125 days

“Many people asked me why I’m doing this.After spending more than 2 months in Wuhan,it made sense that I went to Suifenhe,since it is my hometown,but then why continue to Shulan and Beijing? What did I do it for?” Zhang Kai said that he didn’t think too much about it,he just wanted to do something and to help end the epidemic as soon as possible so that everyone can live a safe and healthy life.

His son is only 13 years old and lives in Dongguan with his wife.Speaking of his son,tears well up in Zhang Kai’s eyes.

“My wife and my son have demanded several times for me to go back to Dongguan and rest,but I didn’t listen,” Zhang Kai said.“They never blame me; they just tell me to stay safe and take care of myself.” Zhang Kai have never shared his anti-epidemic stories on WeChat Moments,for fear that his family might read them and get worried.He only posts them on Douyin,a short video app.

Traveling from one place to another,a large amount of money was needed to provide accommodation and meals for his team members,to refuel the vehicles,and to buy materials like sterilizers and PPE.Zhang Kai said that he himself has spent 780,000 yuan,without receiving funds from any organizations or individuals.

Volunteering is dangerous and costly,but is it worthy? “It’s not about worth; it’s about things I want to do.If I don’t do it,I will feel guilty all my life.Money can be earned back,yet if the epidemic is not eliminated,the whole society will be in danger.” Zhang Kai said,after he finishes everything in Beijing,he will return to Dongguan to reunite with his family,and give his wife and son a big hug.

“Actually,I feel extremely sorry for the brothers and sisters who have come along with me all the way.More than 30 of them have been away from home for more than 100 days.” Zhang Kai said,he is very grateful to those car owners and volunteers from all over the country.Without their support and help,he wouldn’t have lasted this long.(Translation: Lu Qiongyao)

4月9日下午，張凱率領(lǐng)3 輛車抵達(dá)綏芬河，與陸續(xù)趕到綏芬河的其他車隊(duì)隊(duì)員會(huì)合。為了緩解抗疫物資緊缺問題，他在網(wǎng)上號(hào)召大家籌集口罩、防護(hù)服、護(hù)目鏡、消毒液、洗手液、醫(yī)用手套、醫(yī)用酒精等物資。

“很多隊(duì)員以及其他志愿者都非常給力，提供了很多物資。”張凱說，不管在哪個(gè)城市，都有當(dāng)?shù)刂驹刚呒尤胨年?duì)伍，大家齊心協(xié)力抗疫，讓他很感動(dòng)也更有干勁。

此后，張凱帶領(lǐng)志愿者負(fù)責(zé)街道、社區(qū)等處的消殺，同時(shí)還參與了綏芬河方艙醫(yī)院的建設(shè)。他們走上街頭，為環(huán)衛(wèi)工人發(fā)放口罩，幫助搬運(yùn)送到綏芬河的各種物資。

轉(zhuǎn)戰(zhàn)舒蘭 消殺當(dāng)?shù)?0%小區(qū)

5月7日，吉林省舒蘭市新增1 例確診病例，打破了吉林省73 天無新增本地確診病例的紀(jì)錄。至5月13日24 時(shí)，舒蘭市幾天來累計(jì)增加了14 例確診病例，風(fēng)險(xiǎn)等級(jí)也被調(diào)成了高風(fēng)險(xiǎn)，這座縣級(jí)市頓時(shí)成為全國(guó)的焦點(diǎn)。

當(dāng)時(shí)，張凱和隊(duì)員們?cè)谀档そt旗醫(yī)院支援?？吹阶钚碌囊咔橄⒑?，張凱等一行7 人到了舒蘭。

“我們到舒蘭時(shí)，街上很多店鋪關(guān)門停業(yè)，路上行人很少?！睆垊P說， 除了團(tuán)隊(duì)成員外，他也在舒蘭當(dāng)?shù)卣心剂?0 名志愿者，大家都很支持他。

“每天工作時(shí)間，基本上為早上6 點(diǎn)到晚上6 點(diǎn)。我們消殺了舒蘭市80%的小區(qū)，頻率為一天一遍?！睆垊P說，雖然累，但是隨著舒蘭疫情一天天好轉(zhuǎn)，他們感覺很有成就感。

6月，北京再次出現(xiàn)新冠肺炎疫情，張凱和他的愛心車隊(duì)成員，又從吉林趕到北京增援。在接受核酸檢測(cè)后，他們迅速投入消殺工作。

抗疫125 天 花掉78 萬他覺得值

“不少人問我，已經(jīng)在武漢忙碌了兩個(gè)多月，綏芬河是自己家鄉(xiāng)去支援也說得過去，為什么還要接著去舒蘭、北京，你圖什么？”張凱說，他其實(shí)根本沒想那么多問題，就是簡(jiǎn)單地想做點(diǎn)力所能及的事情，讓疫情早日結(jié)束，大家過上平安健康的生活。

張凱的兒子才13 歲，和媽媽居住在東莞。說到自己的兒子，張凱兩眼淚花。

“妻子和兒子幾次讓我回東莞休息，我都拒絕了。但是他們從來沒有怪過我，只是囑咐我注意安全，保重身體。”張凱說，為了不讓兒子和妻子擔(dān)心，他一般不發(fā)微信朋友圈，抗疫故事只發(fā)抖音。

轉(zhuǎn)戰(zhàn)四地，車隊(duì)隊(duì)員們要吃飯住宿，車輛要加油，還得購(gòu)買消殺設(shè)備等，這些都需要大量資金支持。張凱說，他一個(gè)人就花費(fèi)了78 萬元，沒有接受過任何單位和個(gè)人的資助。

出來做志愿者不僅危險(xiǎn)，還花這么多錢，值得嗎？“這不是值不值得的事，這是我必須去做的事情。如果不去做，我會(huì)內(nèi)疚一輩子。錢沒了可以掙，如果疫情不消除，生命可能就無法保障?！睆垊P說，等在北京的事情忙完，他會(huì)回東莞與家人團(tuán)聚，給妻子和兒子一個(gè)擁抱。

“其實(shí)我最對(duì)不起的，是那些跟我一路走過來的兄弟姐妹，其中有30 多人都已經(jīng)100 多天沒回家了?！睆垊P說，他非常感謝來自全國(guó)各地的車友和志愿者的支持幫助，不然他一個(gè)人很難堅(jiān)持下來。