Friends From Japan Have Not Forgotten Lithuanian Children With Oncological Diseases

 

Childhood Cancer Fund Rugutė received support from Japan again. Yuki Ando, composer and conductor, raised funds during his anniversary concert in the prestigious concert hall Tokyo Opera City, and allocated half of these funds to the sick Lithuanian children.

 

The composer revealed to the Embassy that it was not the only gift he had planned to give Lithuanian children – Yuki Ando has been working on a new song dedicated to our little Fighters and is hoping they will be able to listen to it some time soon.

 

It is not the first case of Japanese sincerity, kindness and a helpful hand given to Lithuanian children with oncological diseases. Two years ago the documentary Before Flying Back to Earth, directed by Arūnas Matelis, became a bridge, connecting hearts of Japanese people and Lithuanian children. The same year a delegation of Japan-Lithuania Friendship Association visited the Children Oncohematology Subdivision of the Clinic of Kaunas Medicine University and brought some handmade origami cranes for hope, and toys to the children. They also raised funds for a particular medicine that was crucial for one baby, and that was not, however, reimbursable. Not without sincere kindness of our Japanese friends on the 23^rd-24^th of March, 2007, the charity event Days of Japanese Culture took place in the National Drama Theater of Vilnius. Over a hundred Japanese musicians arrived to Lithuania at their own charge and staged two concerts free of charge. During the concerts they invited people to donate money for purchase of Remote MRI Vital Signs Monitoring System for the Clinic of Kaunas Medicine University.

 

Besides other performers, composer Yuki Ando had brought his own choir as well. The members of the choir donated money for the vital equipment and folded thousands of origami cranes for hope, that they delivered to children’s homes, hospital wards and Rugutė’s Fund. We thank all those who so sincerely and unconditionally give a kind and helping hand to our sick children.

 

Our thanks to the composer Yuki Ando and his musicians, and to all of our Japanese friends for the letters and gifts that brought smiles and joy to the little children in Lithuania, as well as for knowing, that even in the far-away Land of the Rising Sun they have some really good friends.

 

Source: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Japan