Outdoor Japan Exit Reader Mode

The Knights in White Lycra Ride Again

Gardner Robinson

Photos by Gordon Davis

The 2024 Charity Ride celebrates five years and another 500 kilometers to help support Mirai no Mori and their mission to help the marginalized youth in Japan.

Excitement—mixed with exhaustion—filled the air as 44 enthusiastic riders celebrated the completion of the 2024 Knights in White Lycra (KIWL) 500-kilometer Charity Cycle Ride. This marked KIWL’s fifth charity ride in partnership with Mirai no Mori, a not-for-profit organization that creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected and orphaned children in Japan.

Over the course of the final four-days, participants faced the highest elevation out of all of the charity rides. Heavy rain on day four hindered progress, yet despite these challenges, the riders’ perseverance shone through from the starting point in Shizuoka to the finish line in Nagano, where a high school student living in a care home, and program graduates who Mirai no Mori supported in the past, greeted them.

These young adults made speeches to express their gratitude and appreciation towards The Knights, who in turn have acted as role models to the marginalized youth that Mirai no Mori and KIWL have teamed up to support since 2016.

“My goal was to speak English with the Knights about my hobby—running. It is always nice to talk with people who share a lot of the same interests!’ Said one high school student.

“Growing up, I received support from so many people. I didn’t really realize it when I was a child, but now that I’m a member of society, I see the importance of that support and am very grateful. Through this event with KIWL, I was able to meet and talk with many supporters, and express my gratitude in my own words!” Added another graduate.

The Knights have been a huge part of the Mirai no Mori story, having raised funds for its mission not only through the 500K Charity Ride, but through many other “Get Fit and Give Back” initiatives. These funds go directly to enhancing the quality and quantity of Mirai no Mori outdoor programs that are designed to equip children living in care homes with “essential life skills” required to overcome the variety of issues they may face when becoming independent members of society.

After failing once to build a treehouse, Satoru pushed through, and in 2014, he built his first treehouse—Spiral Treehouse in Okinawa. Okinawa has untouched native forests and trees that are uniquely curvy compared to those in colder climates, making it ideal for treehouse building. It was a steep learning curve as Satoru and Maha transitioned from being a chairman of a gaming company and an event organizer to treehouse builders. They were aided by their realtor, who believed in them and their commitment to nature preservation. He helped them search northern Okinawa for the perfect big tree to build a treehouse and make their dream a reality.

“After participating in last year’s ride, I had the opportunity to join the Mirai no Mori rafting program. The one day I spent there with the children left a strong impression on me. Being able to meet them in person and work with them was a big motivation for me to make it through this ride!” Shared a second-time rider.

“More than anything, the real fulfillment for me is to see the riders have a great experience during the ride, and then for everyone to meet the kids for whom we are giving our time, efforts and donations. Money can’t buy that.” Adds KIWL Chair and Co-founder, Robert Williams.

Mirai no Mori utilizes the outdoors as one of the main tools to achieve this with the belief that, unlike society, the outdoors doesn’t judge. Rain or shine, nature will act the same to everyone without discriminating. The NPO builds programs around the idea of giving children a break from the negative cycle of events they live on a daily basis, and an equal playing field where they can redefine and rediscover themselves.

GET INVOLVED!

To learn more about the Knights and how you can get involved with upcoming events (such as the charity run below) and rides, as well as ways to support Mirai no Mori, please visit their websites for more information. Outdoor Japan has been a proud supporter of Mirai no Mori and encourage readers to find out how they can help children in Japan in need of support grow through the outdoors.

COMING UP!

In the spirit of “Getting fit and Giving Back,” Mirai no Mori will host a Charity Run on Nov. 10. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just looking for a fun way to stay active, this fun run offers a range of options to suit all fitness levels while making your miles matter! Save the date and stay tuned for more details on Mirai no Mori’s website and social media as well as announcements through Outdoor Japan.