Fulfill my dream of climbing Mt. Fuji while I can

Hello. I'm Junichi Kakutani, aka Mr. Jun.

***"Financial Report" below***

We reached the goal, but my mission continues. I stopped accepting the donation from this page since your donation goes to the National Ataxia Foundation now. If you'd like to support my cause, you can make donations directly to the NAF. But many people told me that even though they respect my cause, they would like to contribute to my challenges to climb Mt. Fuji (and run (walk) the Honolulu Marathon).

So, I started another GoFundMe.

I was diagnosed with SpinoCerebellar Ataxia Type 6 (SCA6) in 2021. This rare disease affects the cerebellum, a part of brain vital to coordination of body movement and balance. I have difficulty walking, speaking, and swallowing, as well as double vision. This is a slowly progressive disease. I walk with a cane now, but I learned that I might need a wheelchair in 10 - 15 years.

There were a lot of things I wanted to do "someday". But I realized that "someday" I won't be able to. That was when I stopped saying "someday" and decided that "someday" is now.

One of my dreams is to climb Mt. Fuji (3,776m and hence the fundraising goal).

I was born and raised in Kobe, Japan. Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan. The symbol of Japan is one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. I always wanted to climb it "someday". Now I plan to climb it next July while I can still walk.

My wife and our 14-year-old son will climb with me to support me. While we'll rent most of the equipment in order to save money, there is some gear that we need to purchase. Of course, there will also be travel expenses.

I'm a librarian at a small public elementary school in the Bay Area. So, that tells you that we aren't exactly well-off. $3,776 won't be nearly enough for this journey, but it helps us tremendously. Every bit of support motivates me. If we raise more than $3,776, I will donate the exceeding amount to National Ataxia Foundation.

Here are some things that I have accomplished since the diagnosis.

I wanted to achieve the 1st degree of black belt in Kendo, a Japanese martial art "someday". Last year, I passed the promotion exam, and I'm currently training for the 2nd degree of black belt at HSSK Kendo Dojo.

***Update (11/9/2023)***

I passed the Kendo Promotion Exam for 2 dan (2nd degree of black belt)!

I wanted to run the Giant Race "someday". I did it this summer. I walked, though.

I wanted to run a marathon "someday". I registered for the Honolulu Marathon. I'll walk the marathon in December. I heard that an 88-year-old man finished it in 17 hours and 50 minutes. My goal is to finish in 18 hours.

***Update (12/17/2023)***

I finished the marathon in 9:46:20!

I recently started writing a book about my challenges to inspire other people and raise awareness of this disease.

***Edited (11/9/2023)***

I'd like to thank everyone for your support, especially the Harvey Green Community, HSSK Kendo Dojo, and Northern California Kendo Federation (NCKF).

Now we reached the goal. So, please allow me to explain what the National Ataxia Foundation means to me.

NAF is the only foundation in the U.S. that is dedicated to finding a cure for all types of Ataxia. It offers a variety of support. One of them is informative webinars. My father has SCA6 and his symptoms appeared in his 60s. I was told I had a 50% chance to have SCA because it’s hereditary. When similar symptoms appeared to me in my 40s, I didn’t think it was SCA. I thought I was too young to have symptoms of SCA. Then I feared it might be something more serious. However, it turned out to be SCA. That was when I found NAF and joined. After attending one of the webinars, I learned that the average age for SCA patients to have symptoms is in their 40s and to need a wheelchair is in their 60s. I’ll be 50 next year, so I have about 15 years until I need a wheelchair! I decided to go places while I still can walk.

Also, as I had a 50% chance to have SCA, my son has a 50% chance. I want to make sure there will be a cure in case he has it. I’d very much like doctors and scientists to find a cure to save me from struggles, but I really don’t want my son to go through this. He’s aware that he has a 50% chance. He doesn’t talk about it much, but I can tell it’s always in the back of his mind. I want to make NAF’s vision “A world without Ataxia” a reality.

***Financial report (11/16/2023)***

We raised $8,099.00.

I received $7,756.48.

I keep $3,776.00.

$7,756.48 - $3,776.00 = $3,980.48 goes to National Ataxia Foundation.

I just wrote a check (I made it $4,000.00) and sent it out to NAF. When I get the receipt, I'll try to post it here as a proof.

We bought Hoka hiking shoes with your donations.

Anacapa Mid GTX (mine) - $163.16

Anacapa Mid GTX (for my son) - $163.17

Anacapa Breeze Mid (for my wife) - $187.43

Thank you so much again!