Perimeter Bicycling Ambassador Delivers Rider Contributions to Aid Victims of 2011 Tsunami/Earthquake Disaster

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

On July 18, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan, Perimeter Bicycling Ambassador, Tyler McCusker of Tucson, Arizona presented Naoko Okada, Vice-Chair, Global Sports Alliance (GSA – Japan) with a $2,000 contribution check from Perimeter Bicycling Association of America to aid the victims of the 2011 Tsunami/Earthquake Disaster. The contributions came from the sale of event posters purchased by the cyclists of the 2011 Holualoa El Tour de Mesa-Phoenix presented by Pierson ConstructionCorporation and 2011 Holualoa Tour of the Tucson Mountains. Event Posters were given to cyclists who gave a $10-$15 contribution to help our friends in Japan who were effected by the tragic tsunami devastation.

In accepting the check, Naoko Okada said, “these funds will go into Tohoku Earthquake Relief and Support Fund-Sports Recovery Program (SRP) which aims to alleviate pain and provide emotional support through sports for all of those affected in the Tohoku area. We are considering providing children in shelters with new sneakers, as well as sporting equipment such as balls and other sporting goods. We hope that through sports, the children of afflicted areas will be able to put their pain aside, if only for a short while.”

Naoko Okada attended the 25th El Tour de Tucson in 2007 when Tatsuo Okada, President-GSA-Japan, was honored as the 2007 El Tour Dedication Recipient for establishing a world-wide organization, GSA, which promotes a cleaner environment for all people of the world through sports – A program inspired by Naoko’s father, Akio Morita, Founder of SONY.

Tyler was selected to make the presentation because he is the son of Liz McCusker, Executive Director of TuNidito Children & Family Services – El Tour’s primary beneficiary since 1997. Tyler was going on a personally-funded, Japan-Korean adventure and was asked by Perimeter to present the check in person on behalf of our 2011 cyclists. In addition, Tyler also met with The Mayor of Kusatsu, Japan, which is the home of “El Tour de Kusatsu”, “El Tour de Tucson’s #1 Global Wellness Partner Through Cycling”. Each year The Mayor of Kusatsu sends representatives to ride in El Tour de Tucson. Kusatsu is known as “The #1 Onsen City in all of Japan”. Onsen is the Japanese hot springs or Japanese baths. After Tyler returns from Japan and Korea, he will be working as a radio announcer for a newly formed non-profit radio station in Laguna Beach, California. Tyler will be at The University of Arizona Medical Center 30th El Tour de Tucson in November, 2012.

Perimeter Bicycling thanks all of the cyclists, volunteers, sponsors, Perimeter staff and Board Members of the 2011 El Tour de Mesa and 2011 Tour of the Tucson Mountains who made this $2,000 contribution possible.