MOTLALETSI WELCOMES YOU TO THE 2ND ANNUAL 252 KM WALK FOR PADS 2023
With love and support from all our different friends and families. we were able to host the 252 KM walk for sanitary pads, and this year we fell short 10, 000 sanitary pads but it is with great pleasure to say we were able to raise a whooping 12, 000 sanitary pads for the initiative.
The walk was scheduled for the 1st of April - 15th go April 2023.
The day started well with a less expected number of participants, but we all believe that our mandate to familiarise our communities about feminine hygiene and significance of a sanitary pad for the girl child.
The day started at 6 am, a nice talk by Gaona from "Gaona live" who shared with us some of the projects she is involved in specifically the ANNUAL ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS WALK, which she participated in earlier that March. She spoke well on how more women need to work together and support each other on projects which are there to support other women.
It meant a lot for the club to have Ms Gaona to support MCC 252 KM ANNUAL WALK FOR SANITARY PADS, because it is through the influence of others that our initiates may receive support and for the message to get out there.
THE MORNING AEROBIC SESSION / WARM SESSION
There was a good session of warm up exercises offered by our local fitness trainer Mr Levi,
he did a stella job getting everyone to warm up, stretch and prepare their muscles for the 20 km of the day.
The 252 km walk for sanitary pads is a worthy project focusing on helping the girl child, but it also encourages the local participants to enjoy keeping fit and getting their bodies to good and healthy.
Walking 20 km can take between 4 to 6 hours depending on how your feet can carry your body, so yes, we are about helping the girl child but also it is important to have a healthy body. A healthy body means a productive mind and that way we can achieve a lot with our bodies.
THE 37 KM JOURNEY
Quote of the day
—IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO BEGIN ,
YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO SUCCEED " HARRY HOOVER"
DAY 1 morning session 20 km and afternoon session 17 km
The day was nice and cool and everyone
was well prepared for the walk. good mood, motivation and courage,
Proper boots, walking sticks, gaiters, hats , sunglasses and the bags carrying all their goodies and meds in case they needed them.
I have to say, walking is a good way to raise awareness but also helps making friends,
increase your social network, and keep fit and staying healthy.
FOR all the courageous people who walked with Agrieneth on the first day it was definitely but not easy. The body and mind are super excited for the first 10 km of the walk but as you hit that spot, it becomes heavy that is when the mental strength comes in to help one get to the finishing point. It was a hard walk with a hint of challenging terrain. But this is to say to all our friends and supports who took part, we appreciate and thank you for your support.
Your courage to have started the walk and making sure you get to the finish to raise awareness about feminine hygiene is amazing. We look forward to another walk in 2024, and we have done an amazing job raising funds to collect the much-needed sanitary pads.
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DAY 2 30 KM
DIKGONNYE TO BODUNGWANE
The trip was 10 hours with a whole lot breaks.My muscles were never ready for this shock cos this gravel road was unforgiving.
A big thank you to Robert Phorego , his company was well needed and appreciated
He has pushed and pulled me through the big mental and physical blocks I experienced during the walk for the past 3 days.
17 Km into the walk my feet were just painful and becoming stiff as I walked but I was massaged and ready to take on the journey. The journey has been so far even though the muscles are sore. Robert Phorego,You carried me for 3 days and helped me push more than I could have done.
Super grateful to all those who came out to the bush to walk some of the distance with me. I do believe with the support we are receiving, we will reach out to many and we definitely will break taboos and any myths associated with menstruation.
Imagine not having even one sanitary pad to make it through the day .
You will not be productive in any way.
Be it at school , at home or even at work
So it’s important and beneficial that men in our society understand what the girl child needs to make it through the menstrual cycle.
We educating our brothers, fathers, partners and community at large.
Menstruation matters and our girls deserve to be in the classroom, to learn and be empowered.
DAY 3 and 4 FROM BASE CAMP TO KHURITSHE, KGOMODIATSHABA AND BACK TO BASE CAMP
Today was a good day but total torture to the body.
Morning session -12 Km done ✅ Night walk -16 km done ✅
Totals 28 km done for the day
It’s a good achievement but I am totally wiped out 😭😭😭😭
The walk continues. The plan for today is 30 Km and sadly I’ll be doing it alone .
But hey I would to thank all those who put time aside to encourage me and support me during the past few days.
Robert went back home last night and from today will be hitting the road solo. I would like to take this time and appreciate him for all the support and motivation he gave me.
It get really tough and lonely out here walking in the bush alone.
I am lucky to have had Tsholo walk with me. It honestly humbling to have this kind of support.
This year it’s not lonely at all.
DAY 5
RELAXING DAY
On this day I had to rest as it was a long week walking and the body was exhausted.
And I Tok the day off to go back to the village and attend some social commitments while letting the muscles relax fro the long hours of walking. A happy day with my two crazy crazy friends who always take their time to escort me during the 252 km walk for sanitary pads.
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DAY 6, 7-54 km
Leaving the base camp passing Khuritse, Bodungwane and heading out to ARTESIA
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Day 8 CAMP AT MPEPU
DAY 9 FROM MPEPU TO MOLOTWANE
Under the care of Rre Mogomotsi at Mpepu farms and we were able to find a base camp for the night.Mr Mogomotsi was kind enough to sit for an interview and share his views about the role men and fathers play in raising the girl child and making sure that the girl child is looked after and protected from the ills of the world.
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DAY 10 MALOTWANE TO MOCHUDI
FINAL DAY OF THE WALK 24 KM TO MABODISA 
The final day of the walk was one of the tough days for Agrieneth, she walked for 9 consecutive days and the final day was pains and aches. But that didn’t stop her from going forward to complete the 252 km mission she had set.
The night before the weather changed and it was raining throughout the night to the morning which in our culture is a sign of good omen. With every hurdle faced, it was a good motivation for everyone to go forth and head on to the finish line.
Lucky enough a team of supporters came through to walk with Agrieneth back to Mochudi, such support is what really proved and that the war against period poverty really matters.
A big thank you, goes out to Malebogo Marumoagae for coming out to support and use her influence to encourage more people to donate and support the pads initiative.
The power in this walk lies in the fact that men and women are working together fearlessly to build communities and help young girls attend school without any need for a sanitary pad.
A big thank you to all wonderful people who came to collect Agrieneth from Malotwane to Mabodisa to complete the 252 km for her walk.
You are amazing and many girls will benefit from the many pads we have collected.
The walk is about the fight against period poverty and we will not stop until all the girls all over the world never have to miss a day of school during their School days.
252 km walk for pads completed and 12000 sanitary pads. The aim was to collect 20 000 sanitary pads to help over 2000 girls with pads for the whole three terms.
The mission is complete 252 km walk for pads completed.
We meet again next year in April 2024.
Thank you all for the love and support.
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