Meet Natasha Frost
(she's on the left) and is one half of the incredible energy behind
Pink Ribbon Monaco. The lady on the right is Perrine Guyonnet, owner of
Miss Rose by Perrine and creator of amazing floral arrangements - it was she who organised the fabulous flowers along with the band of helpers you see in the photo below. She also supplied what seemed like a trillion pink balloons.
Natasha and Julia Speri-Kaukonen founded Pink Ribbon Monaco in 2011.
Natasha lived in Los Angeles during her studies and was very much aware of the Pink Ribbon movement that has been such a big part of women's lives in all major anglophone cities for nearly 30 years. The spirit of sisterhood, women supporting other women through illness, treatment and the aftermath of the illness, as well as the celebration of the lives of the victims has always touched her.
Although the Monaco health department is very active in screening and development, she felt that what was lacking is this spirit of female unity that is found elsewhere, and after Julia told her about her mother's battle with cancer, she shared with her the dream of creating Pink Ribbon Monaco. As Natasha says, 'Without Julia, it wouldn't have become a reality.' Julia was not able to be there for the inaugural walk for family reasons, but her support was felt, and Natasha says that she is very aware and grateful that without her, none of this would have been possible. 'We complete each other as she is very practical and what we call a "dooer," while I am more of a dreamer!'
Here is a bio of these two great women:
Julia Sperl-Kaukonen: Born in Vienna, Austria in 1973, Julia becomes a Monaco resident in 2002 after pursuing a successful career in finances, in New York. Sadly, Julia's mother was diagnosed with cancer but is happy to say that her mother is a survivor, having got the “all clear” in 2010. Julia is a lawyer.
Natasha Frost: Born in London, Natasha moved to the Côte d’Azur aged five, over 30 years ago, where she pursued her education in French schools till moving to the United States to attend university. In California, she read history and literature. Throughout her studies and to the present day, she frequently volunteers in various community and charitable services, such as « California Soup Kitchen » (project in downtown Los Angeles to feed the homeless), a Women’s Centre on campus (crisis centre for women) and more recently «J’accède » in Monaco, a national movement to draw attention to the public on the difficulties of access to certain areas for people with limited mobility. Breast cancer is a sensitive issue as both her aunt and grandmother were victims. Her aunt is a survivor. Natasha is a translator-interpreter.
These old photographs of the legendary Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich were wonderful. Swiss artist Patrick Lo Giudice has taken the images and in what is called expressive art photography has used heat and wax on wood. I don't speak German so I can't fully understand the process but I loved them. 
Artists and galleries came from all over the world to exhibit at ArtMonaco, including Galeria Salar from Bolivia. This extraordinary painting of a one dollar bill is made of coca leaves created by Bolivian artist Gastón Ugalde. The gallery owner told me that Coco Cola (a symbol of the USA) used to be made with coca leaves (not now of course!) He said he has to have a special permit to bring the artwork to Europe and that if it doesn't sell it will stay in Europe as, because of the coca leaves, it can't go back to Bolivia. You can see more detail in the last photo.
Chris Wake's art made me laugh out loud. They are such quirky, wonderfully energetic paintings. Chris and her large oils travelled from her home city of Adelaide, Australia.
It's fun when kids - and adults - interact with a sculpture. 
Yin Kim was born in Kashgar, Chinese Turkestan. He began his career painting Communist political slogans on walls in China during the Cultural Revolution without comprehending their significance. After completing art school in Xian, he travelled around the world exhibiting his work, eventually settling in Paris in 1994 to live and work.
ArtMonaco is back - 4 days of fabulous, crazy, weird and absolutely wonderful art. Something for everyone - you could say...
Pink balloons soar up into the sky above Port Hercule. The Pink Ribbon Walk is over - a great success. All that remains is lunch...and a glass of bubbly.
Meet Natasha Frost (she's on the left) and is one half of the incredible energy behind Pink Ribbon Monaco. The lady on the right is Perrine Guyonnet, owner of Miss Rose by Perrine and creator of amazing floral arrangements - it was she who organised the fabulous flowers along with the band of helpers you see in the photo below. She also supplied what seemed like a trillion pink balloons.
Following on from yesterday's post and the start of the 10 kilometre run, these 250+ ladies immediately followed in a blaze of pink for a leisurely 3 kilometre walk. Much more my style... They simply walked along the port, through the tunnel to Fontvieille, did a circuit around and then back to the port and all in aid on Monaco's first Pink Ribbon Walk for breast cancer awareness. And then many of them went off for a champagne lunch!
2,500 runners took part in the recent Monaco 10 kilometre run. And they came from 50 different countries. It's one second to the start and the really serious guys are ready to press the button on their watches.
The Pink Ribbon Walk wasn't the only event taking place on the port a week ago. At the same time - and a far bigger event in terms of numbers of people - was the annual 10 kilometre run.
