Faces of Hope Breast Cancer Survivor from Prince George's County

The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk of Central Maryland takes place Sunday, October 15 at Watkins Park. We are proud to recognize Making Strides participant and breast cancer survivor Yolanda Watkins as one of the event's Faces of Hope ambassadors and thank her for allowing us to share her journey to inspire other survivors and those who have friends or family diagnosed with breast cancer. To learn more or register for Making Strides of Baltimore, go to: http://makingstrideswalk.org/centralmd.

Breast cancer survivor Yolonda Watkins is a pastor in Fort Washington, MD, who decided that when she reached her 10-year survivor anniversary in 2022, she would join a breast cancer walk. “For years I had wanted to do a walk. My mother passed away from breast cancer at age 46, which is a fear of mine. On my mom’s side, my great grandmother passed away from breast cancer, and I have two cousins who are breast cancer survivors,” she said.

Yolonda discovered the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Central Maryland. Participating “was a dream come true,” says Yolonda who involved her congregation at Shekinah Glory Worship Ministry in the walk. “My husband is the pastor. I asked him if the whole congregation could be excused that Sunday.” Yolonda organized Team Pink Shoe Journey that grew to be 45 people strong. Yolonda was the number one fundraiser for the walk. The team, which carpooled by van and to Making Strides at Watkins Park in Mount Airy raised $2,291. “The location and setting of the walk are wonderful. It was an outreach opportunity outside our church. We all loved it,” Yolonda says.

Due to her family history, Yolonda began having mammograms early at age 35. But six months after her first mammogram which was negative, she felt a lump and had another mammogram. She recalls being in a state of shock when she received a diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer in 2012. After a grueling six months of treatment with side effects that included blood clots and a collapsed lung, followed by a mastectomy, she went into remission. Yolonda is a fierce advocate for mammograms and provides support and encouragement to others impacted by breast cancer in her congregation. “I have my mammogram annually in October on my mom’s birthday,” she says.

For more information about breast cancer, see www.cancer.org/breastcancer.