‘the courage of our patients inspired me to keep going’
Yasushi ‘Joe’ Ishikawa, Associate Director, Marketing, Novocure Japan (pictured in the middle)
In September 2024, Yasushi ‘Joe’ Ishikawa, our Associate Marketing Director in Japan, successfully completed a 220 km (136 mile) ultramarathon in Bolivia, South America.
During the 7-day run, Joe had to conserve his energy for a total ascent of 2400 meters (7874 feet). He had to be self-sufficient, so he carried his food and his tent with him, as he and his competitors crossed salt lakes and volcanoes on the Bolivian Altiplano.
When Joe went on his first ultramarathon in 2022, he made a promise that he would finish the run to a patient and caregiver he previously met during his work for Novocure in Japan. “I knew they checked my progress online every day, and this inspired me to keep going,” Joe said. “With this thought, I managed to complete this challenge.”
His 2024 endurance run, high up in the Andean mountains at 3600 meters (11800 feet) of altitude, pushed Joe to his limits. In situations like these, Joe has the habit of thinking about our patients to keep going. “Facing aggressive forms of cancer, many of our patients also have a tough and long challenge ahead of them. At Novocure, we try to understand their feelings with empathy. We also need to be courageous, so we can serve our patients well,” Joe said.
Joe carried his food and his tent with him, as he and his competitors crossed salt lakes and volcanoes on the Bolivian Altiplano.
“Many of our patients also have a tough and long challenge ahead of them. At Novocure, we need to be courageous, so we can serve our patients well.”
— Yasushi ‘Joe’ Ishikawa
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