As the dust settles from the earthquake in China, Canadians are raising millions and rallying to help a country that has never before accepted ground support within its borders.

"It’s overwhelming how many people have chipped in, whether it be donations or organizing some kind of event," said Andy Cheung, news director for Chinese-language radio station AM1320. "Last Tuesday evening we launched a telethon which ended the next day. But the public keeps on giving."

By Tuesday morning, AM1320 had raised $450,980.18. The 18 cents were donated by a little boy who emptied his piggy bank at the Vancouver studio, said Cheung.

All the money will go to the Tzu Chi Foundation, a Buddhist humanitarian group with over one million members around the world, including 15,000 in Canada.

Beginning last week, Tzu Chi volunteers gathered at eight T & T Supermarkets throughout Metro Vancouver to collect donations.

In less than two weeks, they have raised a staggering $1.28 million for the victims of an earthquake that has already claimed over 40,000 lives.

"We are fundraising in different parts of Canada, including Calgary, Edmonton, Mississauga, Toronto and Montreal," said Eric Hsu, from the foundation’s Canadian headquarters in Vancouver. "One hundred per cent of the donations go directly to the victims. There is no administration fee."

Last week, the Tzu Chi Foundation sent 27 people to Sichuan province to assess the extent of the damage and to determine what victims are in need of most. The foundation has already sent 40,000 blankets and 20,000 medical kits via their offices in Taiwan. Tents are also urgently needed.

Chin Tsai, 57, a volunteer at the T & T Supermarket near Chinatown was impressed by how many people had already made an effort to help.

"We are getting lots of support. Everyone is donating their own time to come out and help," she said. "I want to do my best to help and I want others to help as well."

Customer Cynthia Liu, 30, said she will help anyway she can.

"Donate money, pray and spread the word," she said. "It is all I can do to help."

Liu also commended the Chinese government for its quick response: "I think that they are doing a really great job compared to the earthquake they had in 1976. I see huge progress."

On July 28 of that year, almost 700,000 people died and 800,000 people were injured in a 7.5 magnitude earthquake near Beijing. China spurned all offers of outside help and refused international assistance.

Not so, this time. At the weekend, China did an about-face and said it would welcome international aid on the debris-strewn ground.

On Saturday morning, Canadian Medical Assistance Teams sent a crew of doctors and paramedics to Chengdu, the hardest hit region. The first team has begun assessing the damage in order to pave the way for more medical teams, which will set up fully equipped, inflatable hospitals.

"We have been working with an NGO in China, which is still pulling people alive out of buildings," said Bill Coltart, the group’s regional chair from Western Canada. "There are thousands of people working in the region but until we get there we won’t know quite what to expect."

Massive graves near the epicentre in Wenchuan county continue to fill up as the death toll climbs to what could well exceed 50,000, state news service Xinhua reported. Those that have survived face many hardships. Nearly 100,000 find themselves with little or no medical help. Thousands are without food and water. Millions more are homeless.

Hospitals in Sichuan have been damaged and services are severely limited, according to Doctors Without Borders, which recently sent 25 specialists to several affected areas in Sichuan.

As medical and humanitarian teams pour in from around the world, over 100,000 Chinese soldiers, armed police and paramilitary personnel lead search and rescue expeditions — China’s largest ever non-combat military operation.

The 7.9 magnitude earthquake has left an estimated five million people homeless. They continue to bear the brunt of thunderstorms, heavy rain, mudslides and more aftershocks. The huge number of victims and the difficulty in accessing remote regions has hindered rescue operations and relief efforts.

"The area of devastation is huge. We’re talking about 15,000-to-20,000 square miles of mountainous region that is very difficult to get to," said Victor Wong, the executive director of the Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC), which last week urged the Canadian government to send the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to China. The Canadian Forces’ DART is currently on standby in Thailand, awaiting permission from the Burmese junta to enter that cyclone-ravaged country.

"Our forces are cooling their heels in Thailand so we have been asking the Canadian government to offer their services to the earthquake victims in China," he said from the council’s headquarters in Toronto.

While the federal government has yet to deploy the 210-member DART to China, CCNC and the Burma Cyclone Relief Committee applaud Ottawa’s recent decision to match donations for the victims in both China and Burma.

"We’re asking the public to make donations to accredited charities, which can be found on CIDA’s website,www.acdi-cida.gc.ca," Wong said.

By Tuesday morning, the Canadian Red Cross had received $3.36 million from the Canadian public, plus another $2 million in government contributions.

But Wong emphasized that in giving money, the Canadian public needs to be mindful that both China and Burma need aid.

"Please consider victims in Burma," he said. "Yes, the government of Burma is not accepting aid workers but they are accepting aid so let’s try to keep the help even."

Meanwhile, several Chinese community organizations are launching fundraising drives, said Ken Tung, chairman of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. immigrant services society.

"We are planning a concert and an auction to raise money for the victims in China," he said.

Metro Vancouver is home to 4,000 immigrants from Sichuan, according to Tung.