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Las Vegas RA Sushi Bar Restaurant Raises More Than $6,300 For Cancer Research

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant’s Las Vegas located at the Fashion Show Mall raised more than $6,300 for their fifth annual “Nicky’s Week” fundraiser to benefit the internationally renowned St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. All 22 RA Sushi restaurants nationwide participated in the fundraiser from May 24-30.

RA Sushi donated 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of Edamame, Shrimp Shumai, Tootsy Maki, FIJI Water, Red Bull, The Republic of Tea, and other select beverages to benefit St. Jude, which is known for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

RA Sushi as a whole has raised more than half a million dollars for the children’s hospital since initiating Nicky’s Week in 2005. All 22 RA Sushi restaurants across the country collectively raised $156,334, which far exceeded the 2009 goal of $110,000. The $6,300 RA Sushi Las Vegas raised included the $1,200 collected from the bartender mix-off battle between Las Vegas Weekly’s Xania Woodman and Q Vegas’ Earl Shelton.

The weeklong fundraiser was developed in memory of longtime St. Jude patient Nicholas “Nicky” Mailliard who lost a long battle with brain cancer in February 2005. The nephew of RA Sushi Co-Founder Rich Howland, Nicky held a special place in the hearts of RA associates throughout the organization. The restaurant developed this annual benefit in honor of Nicky and as a way to further promote the exceptional support provided to all families with children receiving care at St. Jude.

“Nicky’s Week has a profound impact on our internal team every year. It feels great to raise funds – and almost as important – increase awareness of St. Jude’s mission to provide treatment to children at no cost to their families,” said Scott Kilpatrick, co-founder and vice president of RA Sushi. “It was incredible to see people in our community join us in supporting St. Jude, whether by ordering from the Nicky’s Week menu, or by donating their time and effort to the fundraiser.”

All funds raised will help pay for the development of treatment and cures for diseases such as brain tumors, leukemia, sickle cell disease, and other life threatening illnesses in children.

Nicky’s Week sponsors include 1800, Blue Moon, Captain Morgan, Coppola, FIJI, Mumm, Red Bull, Red Guitar, Shirakiku, Skyy and The Republic of Tea.