After the success of the first edition of the Adventure Japan Race, the Mission to Seafarers successfully held a bigger event on 15 to 18th May 2025 in Shuzenji. This time, 100 teams of 3 joined the 2-day challenge and raised funds to support the work of the Mission to Seafarers.

On day 1, Teams Ido (Rev Catherine Graham, Janie D’Arch and Vanessa Toucas) and Keido (Andrew Brooker, Kevin Leach-Smith and Rev Stephen Miller) returned to the Black Dragon Race and tackled 20.7 km of ups and downs in the bamboo forests with Mount Fuji in the distance. For our teams used to train in the tropical heat and humidity, the cool and dry weather was just perfect. Day 1 was completed in 4.05 hrs for Ido and 3.38 hrs for Keido.

Our colleague Tejas Potnis joined forces with the Parakou team to conquer the 9.8 km Green Dragon Race in 2.08 hours.

Day 2 proved very challenging due to a change in weather and hours of downpour to complete the rogaining challenge that took all the teams around the historical and rural Shuzenji township. Teams Ido and Keido came in 28th position of that challenge. All teams finished absolutely drenched to the bones, but in high spirits and looking forward to the awards ceremony and celebrations later that evening.

With the support of our 26 corporate sponsors, and the generosity of our friends, Teams Ido and Keido received once again the joint 1st place for highest fundraising teams, with a total of USD107,000 raised for the Mission. What we didn’t make in speed on the trails, we definitely made in contributions from our business partners, and Team Ido came in 21st position overall whilst Team Keido came in 11th, a very strong result for both teams out of 100 !

The event raised a total of USD1.85 million and is the largest fundraising event organised by the Mission to Seafarers. The money thus raised will go towards various programmes such as Ship visits, seafarers family support, SafeTALK program, welfare services in new ports, support to female Seafarers and much more. The Mission support over 500,000 seafarers and their families annually, and with a total of nearly 1.9 million seafarers in the world, such fundraising events are of critical importance to allow them to expand their reach.

Huge thanks to our corporate sponsors – Charterers P&I Club, C Solutions, Marine Claims Office, Nepa Group, Chellaram Foundation, Phillip Trading, Filhet-Allard Maritime, Taylor Maritime, Aalmar, Seamaster Maritime Group, Liberian Registry, Gulf Marine, Shoreline Hudson, Highland Maritime, Cockett Marine, M3 Marine, Isle of Man Ship Registry, Hop Yuen, Shipowners P&I Club, Wah Kwong, TCC Group, Modern Terminals, Valles Steamship, Bergos, JP Morgan, Fairmont-Magsaysay.

And thanks to all our personal sponsors, friends, colleagues and business partners who have generously donated and provided encouragements.

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