The streets of Ladysmith will be crowded next Friday, May 20, as hundreds of students walk to raise money for victims of Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami. Waving carp banners and carrying origami cranes, children from all three Ladysmith elementary schools will converge on Transfer Beach for a picnic lunch and Japan-themed rally. There will be games, music, and an origami project, with the theme of ‘Kids helping Kids/Taiheiyo no Kodomotachi’ The earthquake and tsunami of March 11th devastated the small oceanfront communities near Sendai, and recovery has been slow. More than 200,000 people are still homeless. This disaster has been especially hard on children, who have lost their homes, their schools, and even their families. It is hard to imagine how anyone can triumph over such adversity, but the children of Japan have two tools to help them: paper cranes and sunflowers. The paper cranes represent the fulfillment of hope; sunflowers represent the will to live. Students will be canvassing their neighbourhoods with pledge forms for the walk. Please give as you are able; all contributions to this cause will be donated to the Red Cross, and used to help Japanese families recover from their losses.