"RFL【静岡】2026 セルフウォークリレー" (Relay For Life Shizuoka 2026 Self Walk Relay) is a Shizuoka-based fundraising project that forms part of Relay For Life (RFL), a nationwide charity movement supporting cancer patients and the fight against cancer. Donations are collected through CONGRANT, a Japanese crowdfunding platform for nonprofits and social causes, while participants use a dedicated walking app to log their steps and join the relay from anywhere in the country, at any time that suits them.
This reworks the traditional RFL format—overnight walking events where participants gather at a single venue—into a post-pandemic, fully online model that lowers the barrier to participation. Because participants can see each other's step counts and rankings, the project goes beyond simple donation and introduces a game-like, community-driven element that keeps people engaged over time.
By combining a personal benefit (improved health through walking) with a social cause (supporting the fight against cancer), the project is designed to appeal to a wide range of participants. While specific figures such as the fundraising goal, number of supporters, or campaign duration are not disclosed, this regional edition of the nationwide RFL movement offers a useful model for sustainable, ongoing fundraising.
Highlights
- A step-tracking app lets supporters join from anywhere in Japan, lowering the barrier to participation
- Visible rankings and step counts among participants add a game-like element that encourages continued engagement
- Combines the personal benefit of better health with the social cause of supporting cancer patients, broadening appeal
Why this campaign attracts support
Editorial analysis based on publicly available information. It is not a confirmed account of why backers chose to give.
This project attracts support because it pairs the act of donating with a tangible personal benefit—improving one's own health. Rather than simply asking for donations, it uses walking, an activity accessible to almost anyone, as the vehicle for giving, so participants feel they are doing something for themselves as well as for a cause. The feature allowing participants to compare step counts and rankings with others taps into social-media-like instincts for recognition and competition, encouraging sustained involvement rather than a one-off donation. The theme of supporting cancer patients is also universally relatable, making it easy for people across generations and regions to connect with. Backed by the brand recognition and trust of the nationwide Relay For Life movement, this Shizuoka edition effectively appeals to a local community of supporters. Its fully online format, developed in response to the pandemic, also gives the project the flexibility to continue over the long term—an important consideration for sustainable fundraising.
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A note from the editors
What stands out about this project is its use of a step-tracking app to enable participation from anywhere in Japan. By lowering the barriers associated with traditional venue-based charity events and adding a game-like element through comparison with other participants, it successfully encourages ongoing engagement. The idea of offering supporters a personally relevant benefit—better health—alongside a donation is a concept that could be applied by nonprofits and local governments in other fields as well. While concrete results such as the fundraising goal or number of participants are not stated in the project description, this is a notable example of a sustainable, fully online charity fundraising model.