CHANGSHA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Yan Ge, a staff member of a foundation in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, once again met a "noodle man" when he was donating to the fight against the novel coronavirus with his friends.

Ma Yuxiang and his friends call themselves "noodle men" because they all make Lamian, or hand-pulled noodle, for a living in the city.

It was more than two years ago when Yan met these "noodle men" for the first time in a fight against a flood that swept the city. They volunteered to battle against the flood at one of the most dangerous dams with other volunteers and professional workers and made them Lamian for free.

"They felt offended when someone in charge tried to persuade them to leave because of the danger of the dam and when some workers tried to give them money for the noodles," said Yan. "They said they would never retreat unless the flood receded."

These everyday heroes showed up again in the fight against the virus. A total of 122 "noodle men" donated 37,000 yuan (about 5,277 U.S. dollars) to the Changsha Youth Development Foundation, hoping to buy some protective products for medical staff in Huanggang, a coronavirus-hit city in central China's Hubei Province.

"My sons complained that I donated much less than they hoped, saying they would not buy new toys this year to save money," said 36-year-old Ma Ying, one of the "noodle men."

His sons did not know that their father suffered heavy losses because his Lamian restaurant had not been open for business due to the virus.

"I will never forget how much help I have received from other people in Changsha since I left my hometown in northwest China's Qinghai Province for the city to make a living," said Zhao Menai, who initiated the donation on Jan. 12.

He called on others to help the medical staff fighting against the virus with various efforts.

"Some of us even wanted to make Lamian for the medical staff, if this wouldn't hinder their work," he said.

"We believe that the virus will certainly be under control because so many people are fighting together," he added.