ten years of tlc (touch. look. check) |
Breast Cancer in BotswanaAccording to the 3rd Botswana National Strategic Framework for HIV & AIDS (2019), “About 1400 cancers are diagnosed per year, with the vast majority (705) diagnosed late when there is little chance for cure and when treatment becomes more expensive” Every year since 2010, we have embarked on a Breast Cancer Awareness journey to different clinics, hospitals and kgotlas throughout Botswana. During these trips we teach communities about Breast Cancer, as well as how to conduct a self-examination. |
Introduction and history |
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The Journey of Hope Botswana is a not for profit organisation of volunteers whose aim is to promote breast cancer awareness in the country. Since breast cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer, early detection is a crucial part of the Journey of Hope Botswana mission. For this reason Journey of Hope Botswana runs an annual Big Journey, in which volunteers, some of whom are breast cancer survivors, embark on an odyssey, riding pink scooters to spread breast cancer awareness in Botswana. JOHB has its beginnings in May 2008 when a group of women – some of whom were breast cancer survivors – raised funds for a woman who could not afford urgent breast cancer treatment. This led to the discovery of similar cases among women in Botswana, which prompted a fund-raising drive to buy 12 pink scooters, train a pool of women across the community to ride the vehicles and embark on a Big Journey to spread the message that early detection of breast cancer can save lives.
Journey of Hope Botswana was formally registered as an NGO in 2009. 2019 marked ten years of spreading awareness throughout Botswana. Now, JOHB not only has a profound and life-changing effect on women diagnosed with breast cancer, but also on those who attend these events as spectators and contributors. Volunteer membersAs an organisation that relies on volunteers, we have been fortunate to benefit from consistent and reliable participation.
We believe this is an enormous achievement, as many volunteers have remained integral to our activities since our inception in 2009. A heartfelt thanks to all our Volunteers who give so much! |
REMEMBERING BEVAt the end of the month of July 2019 - less than two weeks before our 10th Annual Big Journey, our beloved Bev Denbury lost her fight against Breast Cancer. Bev was one of the co-founders of Journey of Hope Botswana (alongside Rita Keevil and Marilyn Garcin). Bev was the epitomy of Hope, and we continue Journey of Hope Botswana in her honour. |