Gambaro JAPAN! ～walk for Japan～: June 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Day 10

Sunny day in Canmore! Walking the trails and making connections (also an interview with the local paper!)

Tomorrow will be a big day!

Happy Canada Day!!!

As of today, we are in Canmore and are going to stay here for a few days and move onto Banff. (**All Community Groups in the area!!** Anyone interested in hearing Steve's presentation, please contact us!!)

Due to limited time and internet access, it may only be possible to update this blog once every few days. We encourage viewers to click around on the various links and previous postings to understand more about this event!

Steve has walked 362.25km as of yesterday and today, June 30th, is his 10th day of walking.

Here is the map! The "2 green people" mark is Steve's virtual location and blue mark is our actual location.

View Walk for JAPAN in a larger map

We arrived in Calgary last Sunday. Steve was out walking on various trails in the city, including Nose Hill Park, the downtown area, along the Bow River, as well as near Heritage Park and the loop around the Glenmore Reservoir. He enjoyed meeting and talking to countless people who stopped to find out more along the trails! Thank you all for your positive response and contributions via the links found on this Blog!

Here is a picture of Steve walking the trails in Nose Hill Park last Sunday!

This trail has lots of up and downs. It was more of a hike than a walk! And for those of you unfamiliar with this park, we should mention: "This park is HUGE!!" Please take a look at a map of Calgary. You will see how big this park is!! So, he walked in this park for 4 hours without walking on the same trail twice!!! Again, it was great to meet so many people out on the trails! Thank you all for your support! "Gambaro!!"

The next day, we decided to start at Prince's Island Park and the down town area. He met many people in Nose Hill Park, but it can't be compared to the number he met in down town Calgary!!

Steve is in the rad circle! Making the rounds in Prince's Island park.

on 8th Avenue, nicely name "Stephen's Avenue"
Steve was able to share his message with people as they enjoyed their lunch break.
Thank you all for taking the time to listen!

Whenever an opportunity arises, Steve stops to talk to people to explain this event, encourage them to check out this web site and consider making a contribution either through donation or other Japan Relief projects, of which there are links to on the right hand side of this blog.

Many people kindly listen to him and share their emotions or experiences. Everyone seems to agree that news about the situation in Japan has faded from the headlines. Steve often comments, reflecting on his many encounters each day, that Canadians seem to have a very decent sense of sympathy and compassion for such global events - and are often looking for a way to help. We hope people will find an appropriate way to help-out and send a message of "Gambaro!" to Japan through the links on this blog!

While in his 7th hour of walking in Airdrie last Saturday, he met a junior high school student. The young man was instantly interested in this event and was keen to learn more! Since they were going in the same direction, they walked and talked for a long time! Thanks for your words of encouragement as well as your keen interest Dayne!! And thank you for your efforts to spread the word at your school and to your friends!

In Calgary, Steve had the pleasure of connecting with a lot of people, but one of them was special. Trevor was training on the Bow river trails. He has done multiple cross-Canada events to raise awareness for cancer research.

Steve heard interesting stories from him, as well as some inspiring advice. You can check out Trevor's website here: http://www.unreluctant.me/

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Day 6

Steve has been walking an average of 7 hours (around 40km) a day since last Sunday - although he had to split his rest day and walked for 4 hours on Wednesday and the remaining 3 hours on Thursday. (Packing up and setting out took time so he had to use a rest day and ended up walking the 7 hours over 2 days.)
He has walked 201.25km as of today. We are in Airdrie now, but here is a map which shows Steve's virtual location!
先週は移動をした水曜に4時間、休息日の木曜に3時間と7時間を2日間に分けて歩いたものの、先週の日曜日以来、Steveは１日平均7時間（約40km）歩いています。
（やっぱり移動をすると荷物の出し入れなどに時間を取られて、予定通りの7時間を確保できませんでした。）
今日までのところでSteveは201.25km歩きました！　今、実際には私たちはエアドゥリという街にいますが、歩行距離に合わせた私たちのバーチャルの位置は下の地図に表してあります！

View Walk For Japan in a larger map

We have been contacting local media along the route.
Our event was featured on Global News on June 20th.
We have also had some coverage by local newspapers.
Here is a link to his article in the St. Albert Gazette.

http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20110622/SAG0203/306229994

Also here is his article in the Red Deer Advocate, June 23rd.

(Sorry, don't hurt your neck.!（*^_^*））
私たちはルートに沿って、メディアの取材も受けています。
まず、6月20日には「グローバル・ニュース」に取材を受け、オンエアされました。
上のリンクは、Steveの地元のローカル紙「セイント・アルバート　ガゼット」に掲載された記事です。
下の写真は「レッド・ディアー　アドボケイト」という地方紙です。Red Deerはエドモントンの少し南にある街です！（ちなみに、いろいろ試してみても、写真を真っ直ぐにブログに載せることができませんした。すみませんっ。）

This event seems to be getting more and more media attention. This is great, but we also hope to send his message to people by meeting and talking directly as well. While walking, he does meet local people everyday, talks about this event and relays his message about Japan. People are generally very supportive and interested (he even gave an impromptu pep talk to an Airdrie U11 boys soccer team!)
If we can get more contacts from local groups, he could give a presentation about Japan to many people at one time!

We are always looking for such an opportunity! (Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, church groups, Rotary clubs, senior homes...community groups of any kind who are interested, please contact us!)
このイベントはどんどんメディアの注目を集めてきているように感じられます。それは素晴らしいことですが、それと同時に、直接Steveの口から人々にメッセージを伝えることも重要だと思っています。歩いる時に、Steveは地元の人に毎日会って、このイベントの事や日本についてのメッセージを伝えています。全体的にみなさん協力的で、興味も持ってもらえています。（エアドゥリでは、少年サッカーチームにちょっとした講話もすることができました。）
もし地元の人とのコネクションがあれば、一度に、多くの人に日本についてのプレゼンテーションをすることができます！
いつもプレゼンテーションの機会を求めています！（ガール・ガイド、ボーイスカウト、ロータリークラブ、シニアホームなどどんなグループでも興味がある方は連絡ください！！）

Since we started preparing for this event, a lot of people and companies have helped support us! Today we want to show our special thanks to one of them.

The Airdrie Comfort INN & SUITES!!

When the manager heard about our event and our situation, she immediately decided to show support and gave us a great deal to stay at their hotel!!
このイベントの準備を始めてから、たくさんの人、会社からサポートをしていただきました！
今日は、その中の1つを挙げて感謝の気持ちを伝えたいと思います。
それは、「エアドゥリ・コンフォート・イン＆スイート」です！！（コンフォート・インは日本にもある大きなホテルチェーンですね）
マネージャーが私たちのイベントのこと、旅をしている状況を聞くと、私たちをサポートすると即決してくださり、普通ではなかなか無いような値段でこちらのホテルに宿泊させていただけることになりました！

We are constantly changing locations depending on the walking trail or contacts. That's why it's sometimes difficult to book accommodation ahead as usual. So we really appreciate her support and assistance.

Thank you, Kayla!!! Thank you, Airdrie Comfort Inn&SUITES!!!

私たちはSteveが歩くコースや次に会う人やグループの場所に合わせて常に移動しています。そのせいで普通のように前もっての宿泊先の予約がなかなかできません。なので、マネージャーさんの今回のサポートには本当に感謝しています！！！

ありがとうございます、カイラさん！エアドゥリ・コンフォート・イン＆スイートに感謝！！

We will spend the morning on the trails in Airdrie and then make our way to Calgary!

今後の予定は、朝はエアドゥリで過ごし、それからカルガリーに移動する予定です！！

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

4th day! / 4日目!

Today Steve walked in Red Deer and met a person who knew about this event!
It's great to know that Steve's message is actually reaching people day by day!
Sorry for the readers in Japan, I can't sometimes update this blog in Japanese because of the technical difficulty. Gomen- nasai(><)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Start! / いってきます！

父の日の今日、小雨降る中の出発となりました。

Steve started off today from the Edmonton Japanese Cultural center in the light rain!!

出発の際、この旅に対する思いをスピーチしました。

Steve made an opening speech highlighting the focus and purpose of this event.

このスピーチはこのブログで見れるようにしようと思います。準備ができたら、左側にあるPageの欄に追加します。

Please find the transcript of this speech by clicking on the link along the left side of this blog!! :)

雨が降る悪天候の中でしたが、みなさんに温かく送りだしていただきました！
Although it was raining and a bit cold, Steve was sent off by the warm support and smiles of friends!

今日は予定通り、Edmonton River Vallyを7時間歩ききりました！

Today he walked in the Edmonton River Vally for 7 hours to accumulate today's mileage!!

Steveが歩いているのを見たらどんどん声をかけてください！人とのつながりがこの活動の鍵です！明日から歩く＋プレゼンテーションができるようにコンタクトも増やしていきたいと思います！

There are 2 main components of this event. WALK and TALK. Steve was happy to meet many people out enjoying Edmonton's great trail system.

If you see Steve walking, please don't hesitate to say "Hi!" Or if you know anybody who may be interested in his presentation, please give them our email address or tell them about this blog!（＾＾）

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Departure / 出発

My walk will begin TOMORROW!

Date：this Sunday, June 19^th at 10:00 am
Location：the Edmonton Japanese Community Cultural Center
　　　　　　(6750-88 Street Edmonton)
　　　　　
Those who are able, please come out and show your support! I invite you to come join-in a send-off/ walk along as I set out on my first leg! (Bring your umbrella!)
Also, our friend Yuki-san will be there selling snazzy wrist bands for a 5 dollar contribution to Japanese Red Cross.

Gambaro JAPAN!ウォークがいよいよ明日始まります！

日時：　6月19日（日）10：00am

場所：　the Edmonton Japanese Community Cultural Center前

　　　　　(6750-88 Street Edmonton)

時間がある方はぜひ見送りに来てくさい！短い距離を一緒に歩くのも大歓迎です！！

また当日は、私たちの友人のYukiさんが東北大震災の義援金になる＄5の「JAPAN RELIEF　がんばろう日本」バンドを販売されます。被災地の支援のためにぜひ１つ！(^_-)