During the MBA graduation ceremony at Nanjing University, Jiangsu Province on April 4, 2-year-old Zhang Haoyu was the center of attention as he was cradled and kissed by 30 of his "mothers."

If it was not been for a fatal disease two years ago, his birth mother Xu Ping would have been holding him herself, celebrating getting a master degree with her classmates and family.

But despite this tragedy, Zhang is well taken care of as the only child of his "mother group." Consisting of 30 female classmates, the group has both helped in raising Zhang as well as planned for his future by establishing a college fund for the child of over 110,000 yuan.

"I am so grateful for those who have helped us," said Zhang Guodong, Haoyu's fa-ther, who works 200 kilometers away in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province as a real estate proper-ty manager while Haoyu stays in Nanjing with grand his parents. "I'll also study so one day I can go to Nanjing University for an MBA, realizing my wife's dream," Zhang Guodong said.

Last April of 2008, Xu was days away from giving birth when she suddenly collapsed on her way to the restroom after class. Her classmates took her to Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine, where Xu later fell into a coma from a burst blood vessel in her brain. Two days after arriving at the hospital, doctors decided to perform a Caesarean while Xu was still unconscious. Although the operation was a success, Xu never opened her eyes to see her baby. Xu remained in a coma until she passed away one week later.

Upon hearing of Xu's death, 30 classmates came together to provide support for the child.

"Xu was a good person, quiet and considerate. As her classmates, we felt responsible to take care of her child, and as women, we don't want to see him without his mother's care," said Deng Lingyun, Xu's classmates and group member.

The group visit Zhang often, making sure not to miss holidays and his birthday, also sending diapers, milk powder, clothes and toys.

"Zhang is quiet and clever, just as his mother," Deng said. "Although he still is not aware that his mother is missing, during the Tomb Sweeping Festival, Zhang knows to kowtow at his mothers grave."

The group also invested the 110,000 yuan ($16,113) raised by students at school while Xu was ill for Zhang's future.

"We started an education fund with an insurance company last year at 5 percent interest, which will earn enough to cover his whole education," Deng said.

Now that Xu's classmates have graduated, the next class of MBA students has volunteered to continue visiting Zhang.

"We just want the kid know that he is never alone," said class monitor Cheng Jun.

Deng said she and the members of the mother-group are grateful for the students' concern, but insisted "wherever we are in the future, we will offer our loving care and help whenever the boy needs us."