Walnut High Alums to Rock Claremont/La Verne Relay for Life

This weekend's Relay for Life Claremont/La Verne will offer a group of Walnut teens more than a chance to get involved in a cause they believe in - the fight against cancer.

The two-day event, which kicks off Saturday, also will give some Walnut High alums an opportunity to pay tribute to a classmate and friend who lost his fight to the disease last year.

The MTM Band, named for Michael Miyamoto, will take to the stage at the Relay at Claremont High School, to salute their friend.

"We're doing it in honor of Michael, to keep his story alive and to keep his memory alive," said Jason Adauto, Miyamoto's best friend and the band's keyboardist and singer.

The current band also includes Ellie Ikeda on vocals and keys, Michael Hanlon on drums, Addam Rodriguez on bass guitar, and Jared Witcher on guitar. They play alternative music and do covers.  Adauto even penned an original song in honor of his friend called "Dreamin."

Adauto, 19, met Miyamoto at Suzanne Middle School but the pair did not become best friends until their sophomore year at Walnut High. They bonded during a summer school class, Adauto said.

Miyamoto, who graduated from Walnut High in 2012, died Nov. 1.

The 18-year-old was well known in the community, participating in both the Diamond Bar and Walnut Relay for Life events in years past.

He was first diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, also known as acute lymphocytic leukemia or ALL, when he was 7.  That particular form of cancer attacks the blood and bone marrow. 

Miyamoto had been in remission following a bone marrow transplant in September 2011, but the cancer returned for the fourth time a year later.

Adauto and friends formed the band in 2011 and decided to play for the Walnut Relay for Life that year.

"We were trying to figure out a band name and right away we thought of MTM because those are his initials," Adauto said.  "We didn't tell him until that day."

The group took a photo cut out of Miyamoto's head and taped it to the base drum.

"Everyone was laughing," he said.

The Walnut community has rallied around Miyamoto and his family. In December, the Walnut City Council honored the late teen with Michael Miyamoto Day.

In March, his photo was placed in the Walnut Teen Center Gynmasium and a Japanese maple tree planted at Suzanne Park in his honor.

“He will forever be a beloved son of the city of Walnut,” Councilwoman Mary Su said of Michael at the event.  “He made a difference in our world."