http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/news/110412/oth11041218250010-n1.htm
translated by Brett Larner
On Apr. 12 the organizing committee of the Nagano Marathon, cancelled in the wake of Japan's ongoing disasters, announced that it has donated 76,270,500 yen [~$906,500 USD at current exchange rates] to the Japanese Red Cross' relief efforts in northeastern Japan. The donated funds came from the entry fees of the 8,973 runners who had registered for the race which was to be held this Sunday, Apr. 17. A spokesperson for the organizers said that entry money was slated to be used for the operating costs of this year's race but that they were able to cover these expenses using savings from past editions of the Nagano Marathon and were thus able to donate almost all this year's entry fees to relief efforts.
Translator's note: Japan's second-largest marathon, the Kasumigaura Marathon, also scheduled for Apr. 17 but cancelled following the Mar. 11 disasters, preceded Nagano in announcing that it would donate runners' entry fees to relief efforts.
Comments
Yes, Would have preferred if they asked us for suggestions but I guess that this was the most simple way to deal with the situation.
Still I can't help wondering if overall the benefit would have been more if they had asked people to donate to cover the cost of continuing and donating a sum of that same nature!