ALPINE:

Cuche donates prize money to aid devastated Japan

March 17, 2011 — The Canadian Press

LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland — World Cup downhill champion Didier Cuche will donate the prize money from his title-clinching race to relief efforts in Japan.

Cuche says his $9,200 prize for placing fourth Wednesday is going to a campaign launched by United States racer Julia Mancuso.

Mancuso won the women's downhill and pledged $18,200 to www.skiershelpingjapan.com.

Cuche says they want Japanese slalom racer Akira Sasaki to decide how to help skiers in the Tohoku region affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

The Swiss veteran became World Cup super-G champion when Thursday's final race was canceled by rain.