{"id":63486,"date":"2025-12-02T13:47:50","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T04:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/?page_id=63486"},"modified":"2025-12-02T13:47:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T04:47:50","slug":"our-origins","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about\/our-origins\/","title":{"rendered":"Our origins"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” el_class=”page-intro” z_index=””][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]How My Breast Cancer Journey Sparked a Mission for Women Across Japan<\/b><\/p>\n

When I look back on the path that led me to establish the Run for the Cure\u00ae Foundation in Japan, I realize it began long before there was a name, a team, or even a clear vision. It began the moment I heard the words no woman ever wants to hear: \u201cYou have breast cancer.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”32″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]My diagnosis changed everything. It shook my sense of safety, my plans, and my understanding of my own body. Overnight I went from being someone who supported others to someone who needed support myself. In those early moments, I felt fear\u2014but I also felt determination. I knew that if I survived, I wanted to make sure no woman in Japan would ever feel alone, uninformed, or unseen on her breast-health journey.<\/p>\n

Going through treatment was a test of strength I never expected to face. Chemotherapy, surgeries, recovery\u2014each step forced me to confront both vulnerability and resilience. There were days when my body felt foreign, when the fatigue was overwhelming, and when uncertainty loomed large. But I also discovered hope in unexpected places: in the kindness of medical staff, in the quiet support of friends, and in the unwavering love of my family. Surviving breast cancer didn\u2019t just save my life; it reframed it. It taught me the power of community, information, and early detection. And it ignited a responsibility in me.<\/p>\n

When I moved to Japan, I was struck by the silence surrounding breast cancer. Women rarely talked about it openly. Awareness materials were limited. Many women didn\u2019t know what screening options existed, and some felt cultural pressure to face health challenges privately. Early on, I spoke with women who avoided screenings out of fear, embarrassment, or a belief that breast cancer \u201cwouldn\u2019t happen to them.\u201d Hearing these stories reminded me of my own early fears\u2014and strengthened my resolve.<\/p>\n

I founded RFTC Japan because I knew Japan needed a space where awareness, education, and compassion could thrive. I wanted to create a platform that brought women together, encouraged honest conversations, and provided lifesaving information. The idea was simple: empower women with knowledge, encourage early detection, and support those navigating treatment and survivorship. What began as a personal mission slowly grew into a community movement.<\/p>\n

Our signature events\u2014especially Pink Ball and our annual runs\u2014are more than fundraisers. They are celebrations of life, courage, and unity. They honor survivors, remember those we\u2019ve lost, and energize the fight for a future where breast cancer is detected early and treated effectively. Every time I see a survivor cross a finish line or watch families gather in pink to show their support, I\u2019m reminded of why this work matters.<\/p>\n

Today, RFTC Japan stands as a testament to the belief that one person\u2019s experience can spark change. My breast cancer journey could have ended with survival alone\u2014but I chose to transform it into purpose. I started this foundation so no woman in Japan would face breast cancer in silence. Awareness saves lives, and together, we are rewriting what it means to face this disease\u2014with strength, community, and hope.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Vickie Paradise Green
\nChair, Run for the Cure\u00ae Foundation Japan
\n<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”24″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”24″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1764650510970{padding-top: 5% !important;padding-right: 7% !important;padding-bottom: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;background-color: rgba(213,17,116,0.05) !important;*background-color: rgb(213,17,116) !important;}” el_class=”page-pull-quote”]”I knew that if I survived, I wanted to make sure no woman in Japan would ever feel alone, uninformed, or unseen on her breast-health journey..”[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”48″][vc_single_image image=”29397″ img_size=”120×120″ style=”vc_box_circle_2″ onclick=”custom_link” css=”.vc_custom_1546932209621{margin-right: 24px !important;}” qode_css_animation=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”120″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”rgba(213,17,116,0.05)” z_index=””][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”100″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”center” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1531131106617{padding-left: 32px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Message from the Chairman<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””][\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”24″]Learn more<\/a>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”100″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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