2nd Annual Miyagi St. Baldrick's Event Wrap-up

The 2nd Miyagi St. Baldrick's event took place on March 20th, 2010 at Club Shaft.  Miyagi is proud to be the first location for the event in Japan.  For a week leading up to the event volunteers passed out flyers and collected donations along Ichibancho street in Sendai.  The volunteers attracted lots of attention and got the word out on the street.  A passing stranger even donated 10,000 yen to one of the boxes.  As a result of the publicity the event was very well attended.

Over 150 people came on event night!  And it attracted people from many different walks of life.  The attendees included ALTs, members of the CCAJ (Childhood Cancer Association of Japan), musicians, artists, cancer survivors, media and local people hoping to support the cause. The best thing was that everybody came together for a common cause and had a great time.

The music at the show was amazing and it certainly contributed to the good vibrations.  The event featured Irish music, Scottish bagpipes, Japanese folk, Japanese rock, South American folk and Japanese Reggae.  Seriously, everybody was grooving.

The event had a great group of shavees as well, eleven in all.  The ALT male shavees were: Austin Gardiner, Daniel Jones, Fong Xiong, Mayibuye Magwaza, Mitch Lippencott, Mat Smith and Matt Sime.  The lone ALT female shavee was Moloko Molepo.  The Japanese male shavees were: Tomokazu Sugawara and Mr. Taku.  The lone female Japanese shavee was Yuko Sato.  Two people even shaved their beards: Tristan Graham and Mike Jones.  With all the music, dancing, donations and shaving the event had a carnival like atmosphere.

When the dust settled the event raised 300,000yen for childhood cancer research/support here in Japan.   A significant increase from last year's total.  We could not have done this without the support of dedicated volunteers, event supporters and event sponsors like MAJET.  You have our thanks.  Planning for the 2011 Miyagi St. Baldrick's event is already under way.  We hope to see you there!  Feel free to contact us at: [email protected]

http://www.stbaldricks.org/

http://www.ccaj-found.or.jp/english/