By Koh Hui Theng

USE virtual money to buy candy and make life sweeter for a cancer-stricken child.

That was the concept behind four 20-year-olds' charity initiative. National servicemen Siew Guo Wei and Victor Tan, and undergraduates Ang Siok Chen (National University of Singapore) and Lim Ai Jia (Nanyang Technological University) won the Best Public Outreach prize at the Citibank-YMCA Youth for Causes award ceremony held on Tuesday.

They are among 400 youths who raised $467,000 for the less fortunate during the community initiative, now in its sixth year. Team leader Ang said: "We chose to raise funds through online gaming because we wanted to feature candy that's beyond our imagination."

So, from August to September, Second Life gamers could enter a virtual candy store and use Linden dollars (the game's equivalent of cash) to purchase life-size candy canes or marshmallow pillows.

All money raised goes to the National University Hospital Patient Care Charity Fund.

The team also sold novelty candies and chocolates, like Tootsie rolls, through its blog and Facebook account. Ms Ang said: "As active e-shoppers, we know there's strong demand from the online community for American confectionery that's not available in Singapore."

They made over $9,500 from online and street sales. Said Ms Ang: "The greatest satisfaction comes not just from helping children in need, but also from finding out that the companies we approached care too."

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