Of course there were tears but it was smiles and laughter that dominated the two thousand plus pink army that danced through the tourist heart of South Tenerife. The Walk For Life is a loud, musical, happy expression of hope and defiance for all those people and their families touched by breast cancer. This year there was a new route to spread the message to holiday makers, residents and all nationalities, that early diagnosis and huge strides in treatment means the war against this blight on life can and will be won.

Anyone emerging from the nightclubs near the CC Gala start line feeling a little hazy may have doubted their vision as pink took on the form of bunny ears, wings, wigs, and a whole tide of balloons for women and men. Some brought their dogs with them suitably tinted and decorated for the morning.

Recent years had seen the walkers hug the coastline on the way into Los Cristianos but this time they spilled into Avenida Rafael Puig, crossing the border from Arona to Adeje. Sueños del Sur samba band led the way and provided the infectious beat as they put their best feet forward. Hotel balconies filled up and sun bed worshippers pressed their creamy bodies against pool fences to enjoy the passing parade.

Many wore signs dedicating their walk to lost loved ones and others carried photos to inspire them. So many stories were contained within those jaunty steps but everyone had found something positive to hold on to, maybe increased hope for the next generation or a raised awareness that could save a life. As a party, it stood strongly in its own right, even the climb up into San Eugenio seemed easier with friends on every side. At one stage some hairy bikers roared by, they too had added touches of pink, one even had a cute pink teddy bear tied to the bike.

Pouring down into Fañabe, the walkers could feel the sea breeze and see the finish line as they spilled onto the promenade. As they entered the park area in front of the stage, a flotilla of pink and white balloons was released into the sky to rousing applause. The swimmers of Tenerife Masters had their own transport and plunging in at Puerto Colon they were rounding the point ready to swoop onto the beach. The pink skull caps made them easy to spot and their close grouping enabled them to take a well deserved bow before touching dry land.

This year’s total raised stood at 15,000 euros immediately after the walk but the work goes on to raise money for the chosen cancer charities AECC and AMATE. The 2012 calendar featuring the swimmers is on sale for 10 euros and already plans are being drawn for next year. For now though, a lot of feet will be kicking off shoes and socks and wiggling in a bowl of water. For more photos follow this link.

Going for an Italian after work took on a new meaning for the diners of La Noria as the refined Santa Cruz quarter welcomed a stylish parade of male and female models for the 2012 Peroni calendar shoot. Heads turned and dinner partners could be forgiven for their distraction as the red carpet sizzled. It’s a good job the cold bottles of Peroni were on hand to cool down the admiring locals.

The scene was perfectly set, from the classic Vespa scooters at the top end of La Noria to the orchestra of mixed mandolins and timples in the shadow of the tower of the Iglesia de la Concepción. As the flashing cameras weren’t visible to the audience, the mainly older crowd were a little bemused to hear a continuous rendition of O Sole Mio, the stage being next door to the JC Murphy pub probably didn’t help the cultural confusion.

I was lucky enough to get an inside view of Peroni’s first photographic venture onto Tenerife soil for the 2011 calendar. That was closed to the public so I wondered how the bustling setting of La Noria would affect the artistic muse of the models and returning photographer Alfonso Bravo. The audience eating outside the bars were already onside after being made an offer they couldn’t refuse, a tasty aperitif and a bottle of Peroni for just 3 euros. The Italian beer’s promotion girls and the paparazzi (above) made a big impact too and allowed a little privacy for the first shoot in the unlikely setting of a dark alley.

Nestor Guijarro and Sonia Hernandez made a striking couple, with hands clasped and attentive glances they were the essence of an evening that neither wanted to end. Pull back a few paces and the bright spotlights and perfection-seeking crew make those relaxed poses all the more impressive. With the shots in the bag the party returned to the red carpet and strode with the other models up to the bridge for the next take. As the night wore on many of the late night crowd swept down the stone stairs from the main street above and found themselves greeted by a well heeled group of friends emerging from the archway sharing a few bottles of their favourite beer.

Of the main cast Nestor is from Gran Canaria and Sonia, Sarah Ainhoa, and Adriana Reveron are from Tenerife. Adriana, a former Miss Tenerife, is from Los Cristianos so I felt a little local pride but they were all impressive. Peroni bottles were welcome props in most of the photo poses and around the tables they were going down as fast as the Italian economy. It was time now for some more relaxed and impromptu poses, the Vespa’s and a neat little Fiat added a nice classic edge to compliment the elegant beauty of the models. La Noria was relaxed and vibrant and set to continue well into the early hours as always but for Alfonso Bravo there would be a lot more fine tuning before the photos were ready to take their place in the 500 limited editions of the 2012 calendar.

Roused from their sunbeds by the rhythmic beat of drums, the sun worshippers of South Tenerife were somewhat surprised to see a pink and white convoy snaking its way along the promenade. Was it a protest or a demonstration? No just a thousand plus friends going for a Sunday morning walk, but what a walk, and what a cause.

The Walk Of Life has become firmly established as a key event in the Tenerife calendar, raising funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Salytien in Playa de Las Americas was the starting point and on a delightfully sunny morning the costumes and accessories were as bright as the snowy peak of Mount Teide. Dogs strained at their pink leashes, pink bunny ears and angel wings flapped in the breeze and the stalls around the stage were mobbed as walkers collected their official T shirts and handed in sponsorship money.

Katy Kennedy and Carlos kept the crowd informed and entertained as the 11am start approached and they welcomed a stream of guests to the stage. Adeje Mayor Fraga added his encouragement and a team of 12 Speedo clad and rubber suited swimmers and their back up crew took a bow before taking the sea route. One of the most poignant guests was a Spanish lady who had suffered a double mastectomy and had herself body painted to join in the walk.

The swimmers were first off, the sea looked decidedly choppy but they still strode in and set off at a cracking pace. Back at the stage they were under starters orders and off on the 3.5 km route heading along the seafront promenade. Many wore dedications to family and friends killed by cancer but there was an overall mood of determination and hope about the parade. Great strides are being made in cancer treatment and many of the walkers had fought the hard fight and won.
The swimmers had already discovered that the breeze was strengthening but it was refreshing for the foot soldiers as the palm trees swayed beside their progress. As the walkers hit the second half of the route alongside the busy beaches into Los Cristianos, many sun worshippers leapt off their towels and came forward to offer encouragement and money. The front runners danced their way forward to the beat of the drums and many new friendships were made as those involved mingled and took the walk at their own pace.

As they rounded into the Plaza de la Pescadora finish a crowd already awaited and a flurry of pink and white balloons was released into the sky. More music and speeches followed as well earned rests and drinks were taken, this years slightly longer and more beach based route certainly made a big impression. The 13,631 euros raised will be put to good use by the two chosen cancer charities AECC and Amate but raised awareness and early diagnosis may be the greatest reward of all. There is a full gallery of photos at Flickr.

Arriving at the 5 star Bahia del Duque in Costa Adeje on Friday morning, the first three models were being groomed and prepared in the Salon Arquayo for a hard day’s work. Loud rock music belted out from the gym above, clothes and hair dryers masked the salon walls and there were enough shoes lined up to make Imelda Marcos feel under dressed.

Juan Casteneda, their make up guru, added deft touches, but to my eyes they already looked pretty special. Vanesa Cabeza, who counts acting and presenting among her talents, is a familiar face to many Canarians through the Cuatro channel, but how ever early they tuned in, they won’t have seen her in the curlers that were doing nothing to hide her natural beauty.

Laura  Martin, the face of Tenerife Pearl, and Natalia Farina, a regular attraction in Fama and Showroom mag, were already trying out their outfits designed, along with the other calendar clothes, by Nuria Diaz. Completing the array of Tenerife talent, Alfonso Bravo the calendar photographer was loosening up his range of cameras ready for the task ahead.

Peroni Nastro Azzurro has its own connection to Tenerife as Compania Cervecera Canarias, brewers of our beloved Dorada, also distribute Italy’s famous bottled beer. A suitably cooled bottle of the blonde nectar followed Vanesa Cabeza and the crew up to a pagoda perched on a mound looking down on the resort and the beach below. Alfonso coaxed and encouraged his model and with added lighting to dispel any unwanted shadows he started to work his magic. Sun worshipers on the beach were later treated to the other girls getting some sand between their toes as they worked through the day’s demanding schedule.

There was a change of scene and models for the Saturday shoot in Santa Cruz. The old jet foil station in Avenida de Anaga is home to the Middlesborough built steam ship La Palma, currently being lovingly restored to its former glory. This proud ship and a classic Alfa Romeo were to be key props for the remaining three month’s pages. Each location brings its own challenges, the sun was fiercer than ever and the small dirty beach next door was heaving with swimmers, a few of the younger ones came to enjoy the unexpected floor show. Alicia Medina looked elegance itself as she posed on board ship, but those high heels made the gang plank and rough wooden deck into a challenge that she rose above with great poise.

Juliane Brandmayer, originally from Germany, tried to grab some shade for herself and her canine companion as she prepared for her later role. Leticia Sarda already had her engine running as she slipped in behind the wheel of the Alfa Romeo. It’s not always easy looking cool and sultry, especially when a local fisherman is just slipping off his dirty vest for a quick swill out of a bucket and a rusty tanker is sneaking out of port past a luxury cruise liner, but Leticia was parked in the moment that the shot demanded.

The whole process is quite drawn out and repetitive as they strive for the perfect look. The trick is to ooze style and sophistication, all six models I saw managed that with ease. Their efforts will only be seen by a select few, 1,200 copies of the calendar go out to valued associates of Peroni. I left full of admiration for their dedication and with a burning desire to have a nice cold beer.