Ballito breast cancer warrior Tereza van den Berg made a powerful statement of courage and acceptance at the annual Boobeeliscious awareness walk on Saturday, October 31.

The IPSS Search and Rescue volunteer, who recently underwent a double mastectomy and is receiving chemotherapy, chose to go topless during the event, revealing her mastectomy scars in a statement of body acceptance and life after breast cancer surgery.

“There is incredible pressure from society over how women who choose to have a double mastectomy without reconstruction are perceived. That’s what I want to change. That’s why I walked topless,” said Van den Berg.

The sixth annual Boobeeliscious Good Breast Health Awareness Fun Walk attracted more than 250 participants in Ballito, with a simultaneous event held in Durban.

Local walkers followed a 5km route from Concha Café on Compensation Beach Road to Willard Beach and back.

Boobeeliscious was founded during the Covid-19 lockdown by Forever Living business owners Aritha Etta-Aleka and Ayanda Gumede, who initially hosted monthly online discussions about women’s health and wellness.

The pair launched the annual fun walk in 2021 to take their message into the community.

The event promotes breast health awareness and early detection, with Reach for Recovery, a non-profit organisation providing practical and emotional support to breast cancer patients, as its primary beneficiary.
Etta-Aleka said the event’s growth showed the power of community support.

“One person can start something, but a community can take it places we could never have imagined. Every contribution matters. Every participant matters. Every person who shares the message helps us reach someone who might need it,” she said.

She thanked the sponsors and volunteers who helped make the event possible.