October Community Services Feature: Tokyo Run for the Cure
By Tia Haygood, Community Services Director
The Run for the Cure Foundation is a Tokyo based non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating breast cancer in Japan as a life-threatening disease through education, timely screening, and treatment. For over a decade, organizers at Run for the Cure have provided community outreach programs and education initiatives to increase the awareness of breast cancer.
Since 2004, the Run for the Cure Foundation has served thousands of women by donating six mammography machines to local areas where women are underserved. Their dedication to providing cancer screenings and improving the quality of life among breast cancer patients and survivors is truly inspiring.
Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kiei Kim, the Awareness Program Manager and Marco Magnani, the Events Manager. Kim and Magnani are two members of the trio who operate the foundation. Though only managed by a small group of three, the Run for the Cure Foundation has a 12-member board of trustees and partnerships with six major international corporations. In addition, a diverse and dedicated teams of volunteers helps the organization with administrative work and fundraising events throughout the year. The funds they raise at events such as the Pink Ball, allows the foundation to develop and conduct breast cancer education programs.
Kiei Kim works with companies across Japan to conduct the Lemon Project. The project’s goal is to teach men and women how to recognize the signs and symptoms of breast cancer through self-examination…using lemons! A shout out to FEW members who work for or have connections with companies in the area: consider having Kim and the foundation bring the Lemon Project to your company. The seminar is free of charge and can potentially be life saving.
Let’s not stop there in giving the Run for the Cure Foundation our support! As FEW members, we can offer our support as active participants in the foundation’s annual events. Events such as the Cuisine for the Cure, Casino Night and The Pink Ball. Also, don’t forget the actual Run for the Cure/ Walk for Life Marathon around the Imperial Palace this December 2nd. The Run for the Cure is not a race! Every participant can run or walk at their own pace. If cardio is not your thing, no problem. You can participate as a volunteer by passing out water, assembling gift bags to corporate groups who are running, or helping with preparations prior to the race. There are also various booths and performances to enjoy. The event is family friendly to both participants and volunteers. For more information on how to become a volunteer or to participate, click the link below:
https://runforthecure.org/en/t
The team at the Run for the Cure Foundation is proud of the work they do and have done. Their commitment to breast cancer awareness knows no bounds. They are very much looking forward to a chance to visit FEW during one of our monthly meetings or annual events.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Run for the Cure Foundation in any capacity, please email the Community Service Director Tia Haygood at community.service@fewjapan.com