‘Pink Sunday’ turns the south of Tenerife into a wave of hope
The south of Tenerife turned pink this weekend, as thousands gathered for “Pink Sunday”, the island’s annual charity walk supporting breast cancer awareness. Just 48 hours after Black Friday shopping crowds caused tailbacks, the area around Siam Mall once again came to a standstill, this time for a good cause.
More than 7,000 people took part in the Carrera por la Vida / Walk for Life, raising a record €132,000. A notary confirmed the total at the finish line, celebrating another milestone for the event, now in its 20th year.
The initiative has grown steadily since it was launched by breast cancer survivors inspired by Belgian activist Brigitte Gypen, now President of the Canary Foundation Walk for Life. With strong support from across the island, the 4-kilometre route between Adeje and Arona once again became a sea of pink T-shirts, balloons, and banners.
To ensure maximum accessibility, organisers provided sign language interpreters, an adapted route, shuttle buses back to Siam Mall, and handed out 3,500 fans to help everyone beat the heat.
Families, groups of friends, locals and tourists turned the start area at Siam Mall into a lively festival with music, dance, face-painting and energetic performances from local groups.
The walk began to the beats of batucada drums, cheers from firefighters, and the roar of the Dakar por la Vida pink support truck. Participants waved emotional messages from bridges over the TF-1 motorway, greeted by supportive car horns below.
At the finish line on the Golden Mile in Playa de Las Americas, DJ Peter and the Miss Music Band kept spirits high, showering the crowd with pink heart-shaped confetti. A moving moment saw two men who are living with breast cancer invited on stage to a powerful standing ovation.
Brigitte Gypen described the event as “a beautiful, unforgettable morning” and praised the volunteers who make the walk possible. She celebrated the advances made over two decades of awareness and support, while emphasising that there is still much work to do to improve care and medical protocols.
Political leaders from the Tenerife Cabildo, and both the Adeje and Arona Councils, praised the foundation’s role in supporting patients and their families year-round, and reaffirmed their commitment to continuing that support.
Twenty years on, the Pink Wave shows no sign of slowing. In fact, it’s becoming a tsunami of solidarity, and Tenerife couldn’t be prouder.
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