The 5th JSS Challenge Concluded with Great Success!

On June 8th, the 5th JSS Challenge took place under sunny skies. The event was filled with smiles and joy. We are pleased to report that the event concluded successfully, and we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and supported us. 

The JSS Challenge is a walkathon event that began in 2021 with the goals of raising awareness of JSS’s activities within the Japanese Canadian community in the Greater Toronto Area and supporting our organization through fundraising. 

This year, 57 participants took on the challenge of walking or running, covering a total of 253 km! On the day before the event, 26 members of the Toronto Japanese Gospel Church, who participate remotely every year, walked an impressive total of 119.6 km. 

In total, participants walked or ran 385.4 km, setting a new record that far surpasses those of previous years! 

We were also honored to have Consul General Matsunaga join the event again this year. He participated in a run alongside Counselor Kuge, completing 6.4 km in one hour. During the post-event reception, Consul General Matsunaga delivered a warm and encouraging speech in support of JSS’s mission, which was deeply appreciated by all in attendance. 

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, donations collected before, during, and after the event reached a total of $23,850, significantly exceeding our original goal of $5,000! 

We would especially like to highlight the incredible support of Mr. Marty Kobayashi, who generously matched all donations ($11,925) dollar for dollar. His contribution has effectively doubled the impact of everyone’s goodwill, for which we are sincerely grateful. 

We also extend our deep gratitude to Mr. Yoshi Inoue for his generous donation, as well as to the Toronto Japanese Gospel Church for their warm participation and continued support. 

All funds raised will be used to support JSS’s overall operations. We are currently planning another walkathon for this coming fall and will continue to host events that strengthen the bonds within the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. 

We look forward to your continued support and participation in the future. 

With gratitude,
JSS Board and Staff