TRANSLATION:  Ishinomaki Kahoku news of May 1, 2011

Tokyo group donates 225 bicycles to Ishinomaki area disaster victims for their transportation needs

On April 23, the International Scientology Volunteer Disaster Relief Team (from Tokyo), which has been doing volunteer works for disaster recovery in Ishinomaki area, arranged the donation of 125 bicycles to Ishinomaki City and Higashi-Matsushima City to provide transportation for disaster victims.

This was done through the assistance of Hodaka CEO Hajime Yamazaki and Taiwanese bicycle maker Giant Global Group.

The bicycles were delivered in two trucks—a 10-ton truck and a 4-ton truck—to the Ishinomaki Vegetables and Fruits Market. 120 bicycles were given to Ishinomaki City and five to Higashi-Matsushima.

The bicycles, in various sizes so people of all ages could use them, are painted orange and yellow in hopes of inspiring energy and vitality.

Yuzuru Ogura, spokesperson for the Scientology group, which also donated 100 additional bicycles to Ishinomaki on the 29th, said, “The tsunami victims, including children, need bicycles as a means of transportation. We plan on getting more bicycles donated to Ishinomaki area.”

The Scientology group is doing volunteer work in the Ishinomaki area, including providing meals and trauma relief for evacuees.