On September 27, 2025, Apex proudly sponsored and participated in the Relay For Life Japan Tokyo Ueno 2025. The event took place at Takenodai Square (Fountain Plaza) in Ueno Park, Tokyo. As Team Apex, we spent the entire day supporting cancer survivors, their families, and friends.
Our team, including employees and their families, showed up in custom purple Apex T-shirts, which is symbolic of Relay For Life.
At the Apex booth, we distributed Pink Ribbon Festival educational booklets and bath salts. We also hosted a "Bracelets of Hope" workshop, where participants learned about the ribbon colors associated with different types of cancer while handcrafting bracelets for loved ones or themselves. To add some fun, we also set up a mini golf and cup stacking game, which were a big hit, especially with the children.
In the end, over 80 people contributed to Apex’s fundraising efforts, making our booth a hub for community and connection throughout the day.
More Than Just a Booth: The One Team Spirit
Beyond our own booth, Team Apex was involved in the overall operation of the event. We helped sell raffle tickets, assisted cancer survivors with placing their handprints on the flag, and joined in arranging the luminaria bags in the evening. Working side by side with attendees and representatives from other participating organizations to bring the event to life truly embodied the One Team spirit.
As night fell, the luminaria bags, each inscribed with personal messages from our employees, were lit. Within Apex, there are those who have personally experienced cancer or lost dear family and friends to the disease. Seeing the bags, filled with everyone's hopes and wishes, lined up and covering the venue in a gentle light was a profound experience. It was a moving moment for everyone to remember and honor those they hold dear.
Jay, an Associate Director and Team Manager for our Medical Devices team, reflected on the day:
“I was really happy I had a chance to participate in the Relay For Life event. It was nice to be surrounded by people from all backgrounds who were there to celebrate life, be inspired by survivors and remember those we have lost to this deadly disease. I do HOPE we can finally cure cancer.”
From Supporting Companies to Supporting People
Apex’s decision to sponsor Relay For Life for the first time came from asking ourselves, "What more can we do as a company?" As a recruitment firm specializing in the healthcare industry, we’ve always supported the companies and professionals working on the front lines of cancer treatment and research. However, the driving force behind our participation was the belief that "it’s time to support the people themselves."
“We’ve supported healthcare companies fighting cancer. Now we’re supporting the people.”— Haruka Sugiyama, Marketing Team
Employees got involved in various ways, from donating participation fees and buying luminaria bags to joining the self-walk relay and purchasing raffle tickets. We believe that a compilation of small, deliberate actions can create a powerful force to support those fighting cancer.
Relay For Life, which began in the US in 1985, is the world's largest cancer-fighting charity event. Held across Japan, the 2024 event saw 47,643 participants across 48 venues. The sight of survivors and caregivers walking together and supporting each other resonated deeply with Apex's core values.
Hiroki Endo, a member of our Executive Search team, also shared his thoughts on the day:
”The reason I participated in RFL's activities is my experience of losing a friend's mother to breast cancer. I decided to participate in this charity event because of my deep desire to 'reduce the number of people who suffer and grieve due to cancer, even if only slightly.' As articulated in RFL's slogan, 'Save Lives,' I strongly felt the joy of having this day to interact with those who are fighting cancer and with so many others who are living in the present. Through this volunteer activity, I honestly gained a strong sense of 'the joy of being alive right now' and a high level of motivation for future activities. During the closing ceremony, I was again deeply moved by the importance of remembering those who have passed away due to cancer and the necessity of confronting the disease. The final Silent Walk was especially moving; the sense of unity among all participants, walking together with both remembrance for the deceased and a prayer for the future, was etremely moving.”
Our participation marks a new step for Apex in supporting people as active members of society. We are committed to continuing activities that contribute to the community, connecting the heartfelt intentions of every single employee.
