The Buffalo State College Japan Relief Group, along the Japanese Group of Buffalo and the Japanese Student Association of the University at Buffalo, are hosting Sakura Walk, Sunday, May 1, at 2:00 p.m., in Delaware Park, with all proceeds to benefit the American Red Cross.

The walk, which has purposes of raising money for the Japanese tsunami victims, increasing awareness of the disaster, and promoting the health of the community, will start along the ring road of Delaware Park, near Colvin Avenue and Amherst Street. 

The walk is named “sakura,” meaning cherry blossom in Japanese, which is the national flower of Japan. These flowers often vitalize the Japanese during the spring and due to the shortness of their bloom, are representative of how fleeting life can be.

Sakura Sato—quick to reassure that the walk was not named after her–is the Buffalo State health and wellness senior who has organized the walk and several other fundraising events for the Japan Relief Fund. She has family and friends that live within 50 miles from the Japanese coast most affected by the tsunami.

“It’s better than sitting at home, watching the news and being sad,” Sato said. “This way, we’re doing something to help.”

In addition to the walk, there will be t-shirts and wristbands for sale, origami crane demonstrations, a Japanese calligraphy station, a raffle drawing, and health screenings provided by the Catholic Health System.

Registration, which begins at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, is $10. More information on the event is available on Facebook.