Relay for Life: My Auntie Karen

Post by **Maka** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 17:57 -0700

Hey Usagi Yojimbo Dojo,

For the first time ever, I am going to participating in Relay for Life to raise money to fight cancer. It's a 24 hour walking event where your team always has someone on the track for 24 hours to raise money and awareness about cancer. It should be a lot of fun. My students are "competing" against the staff and have raised over $1,200 so far. My staff team has much less people and we have raised about $500.

I asked my Auntie Karen (Really my Mom's cousin, but in Hawaii you call everyone Auntie) to send me some pictures of her for Relay for Life. Here are two (http://gallery.me.com/cmtakahara/100232 ... 2501918000) of her in Hawaii and Japan. I don't have a color scanner, so you get black and white. In May, she will complete her last round of Chemo.

Auntie actually gave donated $10 to my Relay fundraising effort. She told me, "I am so proud and happy that you are walking for me. Your Dad sent me the email. It is just a small donation to show my appreciation for you. Hopefully May will be the end of my chemo treatment. For the past 2 months my count has not changed which is very good. My next appointment is May 10." I am really touched by her generosity and spirit. I love my Auntie.

So keep Auntie in your thoughts and prayers. And if you can, please donate to my Relay For Life effort. And if you have anyone else you think would be willing to support the cause, please forward them this email. The link to donate this: http://bit.ly/9r1bCI

I’m also walking in support my Mom's high school friend, Linda Sakamoto, who is fighting the last stages breast cancer, and my parent’s neighbor, John Gomez, who is fighting leukemia. It is an honor to keep them in our prayers and walk in support of their fight. If there is anyone you would like me to walk for, either fighting or who have passed away, please let me know. We are putting together a poster, so feel free to send me names and info and I'd be happy to add them.

Be mindful of every moment. Much love, gratitude and peace, maka (Michael Takahara)

goandal · Post by **goandal** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:06 -0700

Good luck!

Post by **Maka** » Wed May 12, 2010 8:27 -0700

goandal wrote:Good luck!

Thanks for the luck, goandal! It is working. With the help of friends and family we have raised over $600 individually and as a team (my staff and the students) we have raised over $4,000. I looking forward to walking on Friday/Saturday and celebrating lives of our love ones who are/have battled this disease. Thanks for letting me share my passions here!

Peace, maka

MikeM · Post by **MikeM** » Thu May 13, 2010 9:54 -0700

I love all this charity work that Dojo Members are doing.

In the last couple of years I have been doing the Walk to Cure MS.
A few years ago (a year after I was married) my wife was diagnosed with the disease. Heck, there are probably posts somewhere about me mentioning how poorly my wife was feeling before we knew what it was.

Anyway, it is great what you are doing, Maka.

MikeM