Cancer Awareness Activities

• Cancer Awareness and Support Activities around the World
• Global
• Japan
• Americas
• EMEA
• China
• Korea

Cancer Awareness and Support Activities around the World

As a global MedTech company with key products such as endoscopes in the field of cancer screening, detection and treatment, the Olympus Group bears a great social responsibility. It takes more than our innovative products and services to fulfill our Purpose "Making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling."
At the Olympus Group, we address relevant social issues by promoting impactful cancer awareness activities that generate outcomes for beneficiaries such as public citizens like potential cancer patients and nonprofit partners on a global scale. We, the Olympus Group, also conduct internal awareness campaigns for employees. Accordingly, our cancer awareness activities contribute to a positive social change in the area of healthcare with the aim of improving the awareness and knowledge of prevention and early detection of cancer amongst our communities and employees. In addition to raising awareness about cancer, we also focus on wellness activities that comfort cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their families during the healing process.

Endoscopes are used to test for and treat a variety of diseases. Stomach and colorectal cancers, for example, have a high chance of being cured with early detection and treatment, and endoscopes contribute to the detection and treatment of these cancers. However, cancers present almost no symptoms in their early stages, many precious lives are lost due to missed opportunities for early detection and treatment without cancer screening and detailed examinations.
To raise awareness among as many people as possible of the importance of the early detection and treatment of cancer, Olympus is engaged in a variety of cancer awareness activities around the world.

Global: Colorectal Cancer Awareness Activities across the World - “Dress in Blue”

In order to contribute to reducing the number of people who die from colorectal cancer, Olympus is carrying out colorectal cancer awareness activities globally throughout the Olympus Group during Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March of each year.
One of these activities is "Dress in Blue," an activity in which participants come to work wearing blue clothing, the colorectal cancer awareness symbol color, in conjunction with Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month every year. Photos of employees dressed in blue are posted on the internal and external social media to spread awareness of the importance of prevention and early detection information in and outside of the company. In addition, donations will be made to NPOs working against colorectal cancer in each region based on the number of employees who take part in the photo shoot.

Japan: Promoting Cancer Awareness Activities to Improve the Rate of Gastric and Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Olympus supports the improvement of the rate of gastric cancer screening and colorectal cancer screening to reduce the number of people who lose their lives from cancer through early detection and treatment. Our goal is to have many citizens have a correct understanding of cancer, get many people to check for cancer on a regular basis for early detection and treatment, and have people with suspected cancer undergo detailed cancer examination.

Encouraging Cancer Screening in Cooperation with Local Governments

In Japan, public health care administrations conduct public cancer screening for residents. Olympus supports the activities of local governments that aim to achieve a cancer screening rate of more than 60%. By entering into agreements to address cancer with these local governments and providing materials for use in encouraging people to undergo cancer screening and detailed checkups, we are contributing to improving rates of stomach and colorectal cancer screening and detailed checkups.

• Providing leaflets encouraging residents to undergo stomach and colorectal cancer screening and detailed checkups, to be included when the cancer countermeasure departments of local governments send out cancer screening information.
• Providing stomach and colorectal cancer screening awareness posters to be displayed in public facilities and medical institutions.

Operating the Website "Onaka-Kenko.com"

Cancer Education Activities "Endoscope Class" for Students

Olympus provides "Endoscope Class" at junior and senior high schools in Tokyo, where lectures on the importance of early detection and treatment of cancer, endoscopes, and experience of endoscopy are conducted.
At Olympus manufacturing sites in Japan, we also hold endoscopy classes for local elementary and junior high school students and participate in local events to help students learn about how endoscopes contribute to maintaining our health through the early detection and treatment of cancer.

Endoscope Class

Let's Learn about Endoscopes

Americas: Promoting Colorectal Cancer Awareness Activities

Colorectal cancer (CRC) initiatives are implemented across Olympus in the Americas during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March and throughout the year. These programs are dedicated to raising awareness internally and externally about colorectal cancer and the Olympus Group's commitment to prevention, early detection and treatment. Internally, our goal is for employees to understand the Olympus Group's role in combating colorectal cancer.
Externally, we partner on programs that aid the public in understanding the importance of early detection and the national recommended screening age. We provide our employees and the public with education about preventative measures, diagnostic screenings, and life-saving procedures. Through key partnerships, we support organizations that are on the frontline helping to combat colorectal cancer and providing access and information to underserved communities.
Our objectives consist of three impact goals; reduce the number of colorectal cancer deaths, raise general awareness about colorectal cancer and screening, and increase employee engagement in support of this cause.

Don’t miss out on life’s greatest moments | Colonoscopy Today

Get Your Rear in Gear

Every year Olympus Corporation of the Americas (hereafter, OCA) partners with our national non-profit partner, the Colon Cancer Coalition. Part of our national sponsorship of the organizations includes the Get Your Rear in Gear 5 km walk/run colon cancer awareness event held in cities throughout the US. As part of the sponsorship, OCA is the presenting sponsor of the events closest to our which include San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Boston.

Futeje CRCA Race

An annual sponsorship of Futeje, a CRC awareness and advocacy group in Mexico. Sponsorship money went to their walk/run in which OCA was the presenting sponsor.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Month brings OCA and the broader Olympus global community together in a shared commitment to patient safety and CRC awareness.
Through the Olympus Global Dress in Blue program, we join colleagues all over the world to recognize the importance of colonoscopies and early detection by sharing our Dress In Blue photos and donating to Colorectal Cancer non-profits in the regions where we live and work. This year, OCA recognized Worldclass Foundation with a $5,000 donation to their colonoscopy fund, awarding at-risk patients who have little or no insurance the opportunity to have a colonoscopy.
And together, OCA colleagues from key departments sat down with three employee Colorectal Cancer patients to discuss the disease, the need for awareness and early detection, and everything Olympus is doing to help decrease the number of deaths from colorectal cancer.

EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa): Cancer Awareness Activities

Staircase Challenge for Lung Cancer Awareness Month

B2 Run Hamburg and Berlin with Foundation of Youth Adults with Cancer

Once again, the B2 Run was held in Hamburg and Berlin for the purpose of raising funds for the German foundation of young adults with cancer and raising awareness of health and cancer. In FY2026, more than 100 Olympus employees and 36 young people with cancer participated together.

Colorectal Cancer Prevention Initiatives

Olympus in EMEA supports a variety of initiatives to raise awareness of colorectal cancer prevention both inside and outside the company in the EMEA region. Within our activities we strive for maximal impact for beneficiaries and the society, which is why we cooperate, and support selected NPOs in order to make a meaningful and effective contribution to beneficiaries. The purpose of our initiatives for employees as important stakeholders is to raise awareness of and draw attention to the importance of information and knowledge on screening and early detection, and we regularly provide educational communication and activities about colorectal cancer for employees.

Cancer Awareness for Employees

In September 2025, Olympus in Czech Republic organized activities at Olympus site focused on promoting the health of our employees. The event was called Health Week, and over the course of five workdays, our colleagues had access to various screening stations where, after registering in advance, they could undergo examinations to assess their current health status. Staff at each station then provided our colleagues with specific recommendations for taking the next steps toward a healthy lifestyle.

Olympus Medical Devices Awareness Workshops for Students of Local Schools (Primary/High/University)

From May to December 2025, Olympus in Czech Republic organized eight workshops targeting various groups in the Přerov area. The goal of the workshops was to show people in the region what Olympus does and to raise awareness so that they would not be afraid to undergo screenings and receive treatment with products that could save their lives. The events were aimed at both children and adults, and the demonstrations took an interactive form that helped popularize an often overlooked aspect of human health prevention and the early detection of dangerous diseases.

• Healthcare - Social Responsibility - Olympus EMEA

China: Cancer Awareness Project

Digestive Tract Cancers Awareness Campaign

In FY2026, a total of 12 healthcare lectures were held in 12 cities as part of this annual cancer awareness campaign carried out in China. These lectures were held in local communities. We invited doctors to talk to residents about early screening and endoscopy for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. We then provided attendees with a simple H. pylori self-test. By participating in these projects, residents became more aware of the need to have an endoscopy and take the initiative to do so.

• 奥林巴斯中国-OLYMPUS中国官方网站

Medical Student Education Project

Olympus, in collaboration with the China Education Support Program, launched the Medical Student Education Project targeting rural residents by way of medical university students. It encourages the students majoring in medical science to apply their knowledge in practice by reaching out to rural areas that lack easy access to healthcare. They strive to popularize cancer awareness and treatment of digestive diseases, thereby enhancing health awareness amongst rural residents.

Korea: Supporting Initiatives for Cancer Survivors

"Going-on" Campaign

Despite the increase of the cancer survival rate with early cancer screening and development of treatment technology, our society has not yet embraced cancer patients and survivors. Olympus developed and runs the "Going-on" campaign in Korea, which is designed to support cancer survivors' successful return to society. The campaign name implies that their beautiful lives will continue even after cancer diagnosis. There are several programs to support cancer survivors such as "Going-on Diary", "Going-on Concert", "Going-on Walk", "Going-on Studio", "Going-on Talk", and “Going-on Hope Trip”.

• 1. Going-on Diary: Cancer survivors write a short diary via mobile application and share it with each other to look back on the meaning of life and themselves as well as encouraging each other to return to work as members of society. After the program ends, an exhibition will be held at the hospital using the diaries.
• 2. Going-on Concert: This event is intended to provide an opportunity to enjoy culture and arts to improve the emotional stability and quality of life of cancer survivors and their families.
• 3. Going-on Walk: This event is an eco-friendly CSR activity in which cancer survivors and Olympus employees walk together and pick up trash.
• 4. Going-on Studio: This program provides the necessary support for video production, enabling creators who have experienced cancer to regain vitality through communication with the general audience.
• 5. Going-on Talk: Cancer survivors participate as speakers, sharing their life stories with the general public. This project fosters rapport through conversations with a psychiatrist.
• 6. Going-on Hope Trip: Cancer survivors to experience emotional healing through collaborative art workshops with artists during a two-day, one-night retreat. After the program, an exhibition is held to raise public awareness of cancer and share participants’ stories with the community.

• 올림푸스 (olympus.co.kr)

Related Links

• Supporting cancer survivors to live fulfilling lives: The "Going-on Campaign" in South Korea

  Olympus Korea engages in corporate social responsibility initiatives to support patients who have experienced cancer. Through programs such as creative activities, volunteering, and psychological counseling, the campaign aims to provide emotional support to patients and eliminate social prejudice against cancer survivors.