Here in the 8th year of The Woody we have our second opportunity to tie in a charitable effort to the fun weekend of exercise, exertion, libation, and friendship. Last year, with larger numbers, we raised more than 400,000 jpy for the Tsukuba Aijien Chrildren's facility. (Ben has pictures of the purchases that Aijien was able to make. Definitely check them out.)
This year, in parallel with the reworked course for the Tenjin Cup, we turn our efforts to the support of the Tokyo English Lifeline (TELL)'s Step Up Challenge and the reality of 21,881 suicides in Japan last year. Both our steps and our donations support TELL, celebrating its remarkable 50th year in Japan, as it endeavors to raise awareness and support mental wellbeing across the country and the world.