Ogasawara Hits A Home Run at NCCHD!

You could feel the joy in the ward when Michihiro Ogasawara of the Yomiuri Giants visited cancer patients at the National Center for Child Health and Development on 14th August, 2008. The faces of children and their families brightened up immediately when he came by their beds!

Followed by many little fans, Ogasawara visited each room to talk, shake hands, sign autographs, and take photos with children and their families. One boy smiled proudly and said, “I can’t wait to tell my friends about this in school!”　Ogasawara not only illuminated the faces of children and their families, but the medical staff too. Everyone in the ward was impressed by how one man could bring such joy to so many people.

If you are a baseball fan you must know how difficult it is to make even one free hour in season.  He listened sincerely to the request from the Tyler Foundation and came to the hospital to encourage children who can’t fully enjoy summer.

Hospital Visit by Major League Baseball Players

Thanks to a collaboration between MLB Japan and the Tyler Foundation, on Friday, Nov. 9th, 2007 two MLB players, Iwamura of the Tampa Bay Rays and Saito of the LA Dodgers visited cancer patients and other children at the National Center for Child Health and Development.  I wish all of our supporters could have walked around the wards with me (Kim) and the players.  The cameras were only allowed in for a small press conference afterwards, but seeing how happy the visit made the children literally brought me to tears.  Something so simple as a smile and autograph from a baseball player truly DOES make a difference in the lives of kids in hospital.
Click HERE to see the Japanese press coverage of the visit. 
Click HERE to see video coverage of the visit.

Support for the Gold Ribbon Campaign

The Gold Ribbon is the international symbol of childhood cancer, its treatments and research into finding a cure.  In Japan however, the Gold Ribbon is relatively new as is people’s awareness and understanding of childhood cancer. On March 24th, 2007 there was a Gold Ribbon campaign walk around Hibiya Park in Tokyo. The Tyler Foundation sponsored two events on this day.

Walk of Hope

A daisy was given to each participant from the Botanical Kids Club the Japan Horticultural Therapy Society and the Tyler Foundation promoting the messages of hope and patience.