Knights In White Lycra is a Japan-based fundraising group of people of all ages and backgrounds, who through sporting events, give marginalized children living in care, better prospects of a successful outcome in adult life. We have raised over Y110 million since our humble beginnings in 2013.
KIWL Sponsors
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If you are motivated by getting fit & giving back, we have virtual and in-person sporting events for everyone. Age and ability is no barrier! In 2022 alone, KIWL has raised Y14.1 million to help kids from challenged backgrounds, dare to dream of a better outcome in adult life.
Our flagship event, the KIWL 500 km cycle ride, has just been successfully completed over 4 days. 38 participants from 13 countries left Tokyo bound for Kanazawa via Karuizawa, Hakuba and Toyama. We were blessed with great weather and tail winds, and experienced some of the most stunning scenery Japan has to offer. A truly wonderful experience, capped by ending the ride at a children's care facility where they greeted us, waving the flags of every rider's respective countries. The elation of completing a huge physical challenge paired with the emotion of meeting the kids for whom the riders were raising funds, left an unforgettable mark and a desire to give back further for this amazing cause.
What does KIWL do and why do we do it?...
Click HERE to watch our annual video (kindly produced by Custom Media KK).
YouMeWe NPO educates care home children in digital technology, giving them employable skills for adult life, and support programs to allow them to become productive and independent young adults.
They develop language skills, financial literacy, and programming and coding ability. Career counselling is on hand and higher education support as well as offering a support network for post-care adults. Enhanced IT and communication skills, and a clear career path give the kids confidence and a dream of a brighter future. The kids also give back themselves by educating the elderly in their communities in the use of modern day devices. A complete cycle of giving back!
Since 2013, KIWL has raised over ¥110 million (approx US$850,000) to help disadvantaged children.
KIWL has been fundraising for disadvantaged children since 2013 and looks forward to its 10th anniversary in 2023.
We continue to attract and retain corporate sponsors because the 'get fit & give back' philosophy really resonates.
Our participants come from far and wide; Europe, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas.
Collectively our events have had over 1,000 participants.
George Leaning
Tony Moore
Andrew Edsall
Joining KIWL has been a life-changing experience. I've made lifelong friends and seen Japan from a totally new perspective, all while helping out an amazing charity. You don't need to be a professional cyclist (or have even ridden a bike, in my case!) to join this amazing community. If you have the desire to get fit and give back, KIWL is the group for you.
As far as charity golf days are concerned the KIWL event was up there with the best! A beautiful autumn day, fantastic course, lovely company (who tolerated my awful golf!), and some simply fantastic prizes! Despite my unacceptable score, I had a superb day with golfers of all abilities and above all, the funds raised will be a great benefit to the kids in care we supported. Massive thank you to KIWL golf day organizer, Billy Ramsay, cannot wait for the next one!
I have participated in the Go Go Run since 2019. I got to know about it through an amazing friend of mine, and organizer Roger Berman. He is a genuine caring person and so is the event. The event is welcoming, heartwarming, fun, and real. Highlight of the event is meeting and greeting at the children’s home (before COVID) where you can have fun with the kids. Do what you love (this time running/walking) and can help others at the same time are such an amazing thing no matter how big or small.
2019年から参加しています。友人でありGoGoランの創立者でもあるロジャーを通じてこのイベントを知りました。ロジャーは本当に他人への思いやりに溢れていてイベントも人柄がよく出ています。参加者誰もが心地よく、暖かい気持ちになり、そして楽しいイベントです。ハイライトはランの最後に子供たちの施設へお邪魔して子供達と遊んだり様子を少しだけ知ることができること(コロナ前）。自分の好きなこと（今回はランやウォーキング）を通じてしかも誰かのためにもなる。こんな素晴らしいことはないと思っています。
Besides cycling, I also enjoyed KIWL's annual Futsal tournament. It is great knowing donations are making a difference for kids with cerebral palsy who want to play football! Every team had at least one female player and one with CP. The tournament was organized beautifully. Players followed the “10 rules of chivalry”, as we know KIWL always does! The competition was fierce but we were lucky enough to emerge winners.
