Osaka Marathon 2024 Report!

On Sunday, February 25, Osaka Marathon 2024 was held, and 7 of our 11 charity runners from HOPE completed the full marathon! Thanks to the efforts of all the 11 runners, including those who were not able to participate in the race due to health or other reasons, a large number of donations were raised, far exceeding the initial goal of ￥1,000,000. Our sincere thanks to all runners and donors! Thank you for your immense support!

In the run-up to the race, online exchanges and seminars were held under the leadership of HOPE founder Lowell Sheppard. The runners deepened their interactions with each other, learned more about fundraising, and became motivated as Team HOPE.

On the day of the event, the weather was unfortunately rather cold and chilly, and the rain was biting. However, the opening ceremony was filled with enthusiastic shouts of encouragement from celebrities and performances by marching bands, and the event got off to a lively start.

Then, some 30,000 runners from all over the country started the race! The Osaka Marathon attracted so much attention that it was broadcast live on TV, and many people came to cheer along the route. HOPE staff, volunteers, and runners' families also cheered on the runners as they ran strongly toward the finish line.

After the event, the runners were able to relieve their fatigue in a lounge exclusively for the charity runners. The runners relaxed and enjoyed the event, taking photos and eating.

Runners, donors, and staff are all on one team!

The Osaka Marathon 2024 was a great challenge for HOPE as well. This was the first event for which we were selected as an official charity partner, and our staff all worked together to prepare for the event through trial and error.

Now that the event is over, we are overwhelmed by the stamina and endurance of the runners, and at the same time deeply grateful to for all the donors who supported each and every runner and HOPE's activities.

This was the first major event of 2024 for HOPE, and we are off to a good start. 

Thank you for your support for HOPE!