The sixth annual Maovember mission launched last Thursday with a night of fun at XL Bar & Restaurant. Supporters picked up their 2018 pins, joined a darts challenge with co-organizer Paul Rochon, ate carrot cake from 2018 partner Bread of Life and enjoyed drinks and food by Jane Cui and her team. John Bison of Bread of Life brought the delivery vehicle, festooned with mustaches, that Maovember funded with the 2017 campaign.

The party went until after midnight and raised 元480 from darts and 元430 from carrot cake. XL owner Jane Cui then donated 元4514.50 from the night and brought the total to 元5424.50.

There were also 元2650 in pin sales during the party and 元1500 in donations, including ahead of the launch. By the time the first day of Maovember ended, this year’s fundraising total stood at 元9574.50.

Thanks to all those initial donors, including Sue Zhou, Patrick Lin, Sarah Peel, Dustin Merrett, Mathieu Herout, and John and Heidi Bison. And to the many pin buyers, like Randy Svendsen, Richard Parsley, Crystal Lee, Arto Toppi, Steve Soulsby, Geert Janssen, Dan Cowen, Troy May, Sami Lantela, Jennifer Sachs, David Schaumann, Toby, Michael Wix, Rob Meagher, Chen Chao, Michael Kessler, Eppi Okwama, Rod Johnson, Fred The One & Only, Converse Dan, The Rose of Beijing, Julian Fisher, Jedi John, Tim Hill, Dayana, Dan Dan, Griff Haty, Big Ben, Cindy Wei, Anna Lin Yip, Claudia Masueger, Mike Wester, Stefan Schuppisser and Andres Vargas, plus Paul Rochon and Paddy O’Shea’s with a package of ten. Thanks also to Mike Wester of The Beijinger for printing this year’s materials, to Andres Vargas for designing this year’s pin and to Claudia Masueger of CHEERS for producing the pins.

Maovember focuses on quirky events for good causes. Our 2022 partner is Library Project, which has furnished thousands of reading rooms in rural schools. Learn more about Maovember here. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.