Hi, friends and family,

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. As you all know, this year I am teaching English in Kyoto, Japan with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET). Though I have not been directly affected in any harmful way by the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, I do feel closer to the suffering because of where I live. Fellow coworkers have long time friends, and some have family even, who live in or near the affected regions. Some are still waiting to hear of the safely of some of their friends. As a resident of this great country, I feel a responsibility to help the people with whom I share this island.  

 

My fellow teachers and I here in Kyoto are trying to raise money for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief fund, a fund that some other JETs in Japan under an organization called "5ToSurvive" have started giving to. On Sunday, April 10th, JETs all around Japan will be running a 5K to raise money for relief efforts in the northern prefectures of Japan devastated by the earthquake and tsunami, not even 650 miles from where I live. I, and the residents of Japan whose lives have been turned upside down by these events, would be eternally grateful for any contribution you can make to this cause and our effort. I hope you will be able to donate something to this.

 

Thanks in advance for your support and I will keep you all up to date with how the event goes. Please continue to check back here to see how we progress. It's less than a week before we run, so please don't put off donating for too long. Take care, everyone!

 

[Update, April 15 - The run was a big success with over 20 people coming out to run. It was a warm day and we ran along the Kamo River as sakura (cherry blossoms) were blooming. All in all, my team has raised over $2,400 dollars for this fund, but the fundraising continues! The page will continue to be open so long as people are making donations, so please consider donating if you haven't. The problems in northern Japan continue even though our run has ended. Thank you!]

 

With many thanks,

 

Garrett