Popular creator Connor “CDawgVA” Colquhoun is preparing for another long-distance cycling challenge across Japan as he brings back his annual charity livestream event, CYCLETHON, for its fifth edition.
The event, titled CYCLETHON 5, will take place from April 5 to April 19, 2026. Organized by GeeXPlus, Inc., a subsidiary of DWANGO Co., Ltd. under the KADOKAWA Group, the livestream will follow CDawgVA as he cycles roughly 1,300 kilometers across Japan, starting in Ōma Town in Aomori Prefecture and finishing in Osaka.
All proceeds raised during the stream will go to the Immune Deficiency Foundation, a nonprofit that supports people living with primary immunodeficiency diseases.
CYCLETHON originally began in 2022 as a charity project created by CDawgVA to support his friend and fellow VTuber Ironmouse, who lives with Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID).
Since then, the event has grown into one of the most well-known charity streaming projects in the online creator space. In 2023, it even won Best Philanthropic Stream Event at The Streamer Awards. The 2025 edition raised a record 150 million yen (over $1.04 million USD) for the Immune Deficiency Foundation.
For this year’s ride, the journey will begin at Ōma, the northernmost point of Japan’s main island of Honshu. From there, CDawgVA will travel through Akita, Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, and Kyoto before reaching the final destination in Osaka, covering about 1,300 kilometers over two weeks.
As in previous years, the ride won’t be a solo journey. Japan travel YouTuber Chris Broad, known for his channel Abroad in Japan, will join the full route. Other streamers are also expected to appear as guest participants along the way, and Ironmouse will once again be part of the project.
CDawgVA shared his thoughts on returning for another cross-country ride and why he chose Osaka as the final stop this time.
“Japan is truly a beautiful country, and every time I cross it, I’m amazed all over again. It feels like a waste not to explore it by cycling. I’m genuinely happy to be able to host such a wonderful charity project on my channel each year, surrounded by these incredible landscapes.
In recent years, Tokyo has been the goal point, but this time I wanted to explore more routes and share new scenery, so I chose Osaka as the finish line for the first time. I hope this challenge expands the possibilities of the project even further, and I’m looking forward to celebrating the finish with everyone in a new place. I hope viewers will enjoy this fresh experience together with us.”
Viewers will be able to follow the entire journey through daily livestreams on Twitch, while YouTube VODs will be uploaded each day for those who miss the live broadcasts. A full recap video will also be released after the event.
Donations during the stream will be collected through the fundraising platform Tiltify, with all proceeds going directly to the Immune Deficiency Foundation. Since the project started in 2022, the amount raised has increased each year thanks to support from viewers around the world.
Past CYCLETHON events include:
- 2022 – Cyclethon 1: about 45.6 million yen (around $320,000 USD) raised during an 8-day, 750 km ride from Wakkanai to Hakodate in Hokkaido.
- 2023 – Cyclethon 2: about 79 million yen (around $555,000 USD) raised during a 9-day, 900 km route in Kyushu from Fukuoka Tower to Kokura Station.
- 2024 – Cyclethon 3: about 130 million yen (around $1.02 million USD) raised during a 14-day, 1,200 km ride from Shimonoseki to Tokyo Tower.
- 2025 – Cyclethon 4: about 150 million yen (around $1.04 million USD) raised during a 15-day, 1,300 km journey from Cape Nosappu in Hokkaido to Toranomon Hills in Tokyo.
CDawgVA currently has more than 3.2 million subscribers on YouTube and is known for his work as a voice actor, streamer, and content creator. He is also one of the hosts of the popular podcast Trash Taste, which covers anime, internet culture, and life in Japan.
Ironmouse, who will also appear during the event, is one of the most popular VTubers in the world, with over 2.24 million Twitch followers and 1.58 million YouTube subscribers.
Chris Broad’s Abroad in Japan channel has also become one of the largest YouTube platforms dedicated to Japanese culture and travel, with more than 3.28 million subscribers.
CYCLETHON 5 will run from April 5 to April 19, giving viewers two weeks to follow the journey across Japan while helping raise money for a cause that has become central to the project since it first began.
