Activities Report / InformationREPORT & INFORMATION
2026.08.03
Activity report
- #Rare disease
- #Mucopolysaccharidosis
- #International MPS Awareness Day
- #Disease awareness
International Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) Awareness Event 2026 Held for Employees
In conjunction with International MPS Awareness Day on May 15, the MEDIPAL Group held an internal disease awareness initiative to deepen employees’ understanding of MPS, which is one of our key focus areas in rare diseases.
As a new initiative this year, we held a Charity Walk in collaboration with JCR Pharma Co., Ltd. Bringing together employees across companies and departments, the event served not only to raise awareness of MPS and other rare diseases, but also to provide a meaningful opportunity for us to personally experience the everyday challenges faced by patients and their families and to reaffirm our sense of purpose as a company committed to healthcare.
“Accessibility Walk” — Seeing the City Through a Patient’s Eyes
On May 15, International MPS Awareness Day, we held an approximately 4-km walk from the area around our Tokyo Head Office through the Ginza and Tsukiji areas. A total of 24 participants from both companies joined the event, each wearing something purple, the official awareness color for MPS.
As MPS progresses, patients may experience reduced joint mobility or need to use a wheelchair. With this in mind, the walk was themed as an “Accessibility Walk,” inviting participants to experience the city’s accessibility from a patient’s perspective. Along the way, participants took pictures of things they might typically walk right past: small steps and inclines, small access ramps, and other features easily missed when walking without mobility challenges.
Throughout the walk, participants engaged in lively conversation, sharing their observations and perspectives. Participants shared concrete infrastructure challenges, such as abandoned bicycles blocking tactile guide blocks, and intersections served only by pedestrian overpasses — routes that force wheelchair users to take lengthy detours. Despite the serious subject matter, the atmosphere was warm and candid, with participants from different organizations naturally opening up, engaging seriously with the topic while enjoying each other’s company.
Participant Voices
“Walking with accessibility in mind made me notice small steps and inclines I’d never paid attention to before. It was a valuable opportunity to genuinely imagine the day-to-day difficulties patients face.”
“Meeting face-to-face with colleagues from other companies and departments deepened my understanding of rare diseases and reminded me of our social mission, which is to reliably deliver the medical care that people need.”
The MEDIPAL Group will continue its awareness activities to promote understanding and support for MPS and other rare diseases.
