In February, when swimmer IKEE Rikako announced on Twitter that she had been diagnosed with leukemia, the story blew up in the news. She holds the Japanese record in five individual events, including the 100-meter freestyle. At the Asian Games held last year, she collected six gold medals, and was selected as the MVP (most valuable player) in the event. Ikee had been participating in training sessions in Australia since January, but as her condition worsened, she had to return to Japan for medical assessment. On hearing this news, increasing numbers of people began to sign up for blood and bone marrow donation.