17-year-old Wu Yuan from southwest China's Sichuan Province wrote a letter begging actor Li Yapeng to help him cure his cleft palate, or harelip, through the Yanran Angle Foundation he founded.

The middle school student titled his letter "I have a dream" and told the actor he had a terrible childhood because of his deformity. He was raised by his father after his parents divorced and his cleft palate rendered him unable smile or speak clearly for the last 17 years.

Wu Yuan told the actor he hopes the Yanran Angle Foundation will help him realize his dream of being able to smile.

Wang Rupeng is the secretary- general of China's Red Cross Foundation.

He said the Yanran Angle Foundation may be able to help the boy, even though his age does not comply with the organization's age requirements.

Pop diva Faye Wong and husband Li Yapeng last month set up the Yan Ran Angle foundation to help children under 14 years old with harelips and cleft palates. They named the foundation after their daughter, who was born with the deformity.

(CRI December 18, 2006)