Hailing from Molalatau, Ms Mmoloki Mmirwa is a breast cancer survivor and her participation in the event was  driven by a deep sense of gratitude for her second chance at life. 

For her, every step represented celebration of resilience and a personal milestone.

Reflecting on her journey, Ms Mmirwa openly acknowledged that delaying her initial diagnosis altered the course of her life. Health officials later confirmed that the lump in her breast had likely been present for three to four years before she sought medical help. 

Her intensive treatment journey began with chemotherapy in 2023, followed by a mastectomy in 2025 where she lost her breast. 

She subsequently underwent radiation therapy, a gruelling process she navigated through faith and hope.

“I completed  radiation in February this year and now I go for check-ups and scans and I believe that I will do fine,” Ms Mmirwa said.

Having walked that difficult road, she is determined to spare others from a similar ordeal. She urges both women and men to regularly examine themselves for potential warning signs such as breast colour changes, an unusual lump or alterations in nipple appearance and to consult healthcare professionals immediately if they spot anything atypical. “I encourage people to always check breast cancer with health professionals often as it is not easy to pass through what I went through,” she said.

Navigating a diagnosis can also bring emotional confusion, especially when there is no family history of the disease. 

Ms Mmirwa admitted that she sometimes wondered why she had to face breast cancer when no one else in her family had experienced it.

Yet, she considers herself healed, owing to unwavering support of her loved ones as her anchor throughout the storm.

“I am living a new life now and I have accepted it. It is hard to imagine losing all your hair and your breast. But my hair has since grown back now and I am embracing it seriously as I lived for two years without any hair,” she said.

Today, Ms Mmirwa remains positive. She wants to reach out to as many breast cancer patients as possible to offer them the compassion and encouragement needed to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Her story is precisely why counsellor and Journey of Hope volunteer, Ms Mpinie Olopeng started the initiative back in 2023. 

What began as a local effort has grown into a mobile campaign to reach diverse communities across the nation. 

The fifth awareness walk held in Kumakwane follows previous events held twice in Kanye and twice in Mogobane.

The primary goal of the walk is to spread vital information about breast cancer while building a solid support system for patients facing physical and emotional struggles. 

Ms Olopeng noted that securing corporate backing remained a challenge, though they do not seek monetary donations. 

Instead, they encourage companies, organisations and individuals to donate essential items like toiletries, services and other useful products for patients.

“We are not running an organisation but we are all people affected or infected in one way or the other by breast cancer and have come together to raise awareness to the community of Kumakwane and Batswana on the importance of early detection of breast cancer,” she said.

Her commitment to the cause is personal, having lost her mother to breast cancer, Ms Olopeng made a conscious choice to turn her grief into action, creating platforms that give others the support her mother missed and encouraging widespread testing. 

She extended her gratitude to stakeholders and South African partners who have consistently stood by her vision.

Primary healthcare director in the Ministry of Health, Dr Bobby Kgosiemang, commended the event, noting that globally, October serves as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. He emphasised that early detection was crucial to initiating quick treatment before the cancer can metastasize.

In Botswana, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, trailing only cervical cancer. The statistics highlight a serious public health threat as in 2024, Botswana registered 423 breast cancer cases and 136 deaths. Raising awareness and encouraging routine testing are vital steps to lowering these numbers before cases become fatal.

Dr Kgosiemang encouraged people to perform self-examinations or visit local clinics for professional check-ups, where immediate assistance and referrals can be provided if anything unusual is detected. 

Symptoms to watch for include a painless breast lump or thickening, changes in the size, shape, or appearance of the breast, dimpling, redness, pitting or other skin changes, alterations in nipple appearance or surrounding skin as well as abnormal or bloody fluid discharge.

Importantly, Dr Kgosiemang reassured the public regarding national medical capabilities, noting that Botswana had full capacity to treat all cancer patients through both public and private facilities, without needing to send patients abroad.

Meanwhile, the impact of the walk extends beyond the borders. Hikers from South Africa, including Ms Gugulethu Tong from Mafikeng, travelled to Kumakwane to show their solidarity. ENDS