Li signed up for the China Marrow Donor Program in 2004 and had his hematopoietic stem cells collected then.

In September, he was informed he was a match by the local Red Cross Society, but was warned that his physical condition might make him an unsuitable donor, as his blood lipids, blood sugar and liver function all failed to meet the health guidelines for a donor.

By skipping dinner and taking an average of 30,000 steps every day, regardless of weather, he managed to cut his weight by 15 kilograms in one month and become a fit donor for the program.