Vivianne LariviereHudson, PQ
Fundraising Goal: $5,000

Vivianne writes a weekly column for the Hudson Gazette. This year she felt moved to do something different over Christmas: something bigger and deeper than she'd done before, and to not let fear get in the way. So she wrote a special and very personal column about AIDS, and has dared her readers to make a donation. Read her column here.

Stephanie MartinToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,000

Singer Stephanie Martin cut off her hair during a concert at Toronto jazz bar Trane Studio. Martin was inspired by watching Stephen Lewis do his dare by singing Ain’t Too Proud To Beg on CBC’s The Hour. “I thought, ‘I’ve got to participate.’” Apparently, peopel loved the idea - so far, she has exceeded her fundraising goal by 200%!

Dawn SawfordHamilton, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,000

Dawn Sawford just turned 60, and decided to celebrate by dyeing her hair purple as a daring way to raise money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. She got the idea from the opening line of a poem by Jenny Joseph: "When I'm an old woman I will wear purple with a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me."  "I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday and make it truly memorable" , says Dawn.

Jan McConnellMontreal, PQ
Fundraising Goal: $1000

Jan McConnell is daring to work with school children to encourage them to write stories about the importance of their grandmothers, in an act of solidarity with the grandmothers in Africa who are raising their orphaned grandchildren.

Visit the A Dare to Remember section of the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Flickr page to read a few of the stories so far!

Pat ThorntonToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $2000

Pat Thornton will do stand-up comedy for 24 hours straight! He will perform at the Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St.) from 6pm until 6am on November 2nd. Guest comics will be on hand to write material for him. Come out and laugh along!

Elizabeth LopezAjax, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

In what will surely be an extraordinary experience, Elizabeth is taking the Dare to Remember Campaign to new heights!  Taking on a bold dare, she plans on hang gliding in Pickering, ON in early November to experience a new adventure while raising money and awareness for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Positive Women's NetworkVancouver, BC
Fundraising Goal: $1650

The Positive Women's Network is committed to action and leadership on Women and HIV/AIDS.  Supporting women locally and nationaly from their Vancouver office, they are also motivated to facilitate change globally.  As a result, the staff of Positive Women's Network are taking on a Dare to Remember for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.  For the week of October 17th-25th, the women are vowing to climb the six flights of stairs (twelve actually because there is a switchback!) to their office rather than "take the easy route" and use the elevator.  Not only are these women taking on a group dare, but each member has chosen to engage in an individual dare including walking to work everyday and hiking on beautiful West Coast trails in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Librarians Dare to PartyToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1000

First Year Faculty of Information Students at the University of Toronto want to debunk the myth that horn-rimmed, cat collecting, tea drinking, frumpy librarians and their information professional counterparts exist.  Indeed, they like to get down and boogie!  In light of this goal, they are hosting a party but wait, there's a twist.  This is a Dare challenge modeled in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation to raise money for organizations fighting AIDS in Africa.  The challenge also promotes the founding principles of librarianship: civic engagement, and the free flow of information.  Engaging in dares including taking references to the streets and winter clothing drives with informational packages for homeless people, the First Year FI students are utilizing their skills to support people in Toronto, raise funds for SLF projects in Africa and challenge the perception that librarians don't know how to party.

FitClubOttawa, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,500

Recognizing that we in the West have the luxury to make the majority of our health choices, the FitClub members will dare to meet personal fitness objectives over a 3 month period, and to raise awareness of the health challenges facing millions of young people around the world. Their goals are big and bold:

• Laurie will run her first 10 km race to raise awareness of the nearly 10 million children under the age of five who die every year.
• Janine aims to lose 15 lbs to bring attention to the approximately 15 million children under the age of 18 who have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
• Antonella will exercise for 60 minutes 3 times a week in recognition that with 60% of the world's population, Asian countries such as China will soon be faced with a serious orphan crisis if urgent steps are not taken to curb the growing HIV infection rate.
• Sara will face her most despised exercise and do 600 sit ups a week for 3 months, in recognition of the 600,000 children who have been orphaned due to AIDS in Zambia.
• Laura will get up to sit down on the exercise bike for 45 minutes 4 times a week to raise awareness that globally, young people, age 15-24, account for 45% of all new HIV infections.

Amber UrquhartLondon, UK
Fundraising Goal: $1,111

Amber Urquhart will overcome her inhibitions and spend a day singing songs from Les Miserables in London's crowded Covent Garden.

Kaitlin TorranceToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

You may have heard of "Buy Nothing Day".  Well Kaitlin has challenged herself to a "Buy Nothing Week."  From October 17-24 there will be no coffee stops, midnight visits to the grocery store or eating out of any kind.. and that's just food! She'll also be ignoring every other invitation from our culture of convenience to spend needlessly... which means she'll have to be very organized and resourceful!

Patricia StockwellLondon, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

As newly retired teacher, Patricia visits coffee shops many times a week, sometimes more than once a day.  While she is not ready to give up drinking coffee altogether, she is declaring a 5 day moratorium on visiting coffee shops and donating the money she saves to the Grandmother's Campaign.  Furthermore, for the next year she is declaring one day a week a "coffee shop free day", and donating that money to the Foundation.  If you are a coffee drinker, join her!

Michael WaglayToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $200

Michael has O negative blood, which makes him a prized "universal donor." But he is terrified of needles and so has never given blood before. However, to help those in need both at home and in Africa, he has dared himself to donate.

Brenda JefferiesFlamborough, ON
Fundraising Goal: $200

Brenda Jefferies has never been on an airplane – ever. She just never got around to it. Until now.

After a quick call to Spectrum Airways, which is run out of the Burlington Air Park, to enquire whether a flight for a good cause was a possibility, she got a call from the owner who hooked her up right away. Soon, pilot Bill and she decided that Thursday, October 22 would be the big day. She admits to being a little nervous, but she's excited, too. And she's eagerly anticipating the view of Flamborough from above.

Visit the News page to read an article in the Flamborough Review about Brenda's dare.

Toronto Grandmothers EmbraceToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,500

The members of the Toronto Grandmothers Embrace grandmother group in North Toronto will provide a home-cooked lunch for teachers at two local schools. On Wednesday, October 21st they will provide lunch for 25 hungry and hardworking teachers at Nottingham Public School in Whitby. On Thursday, October 22nd they will provide lunch for 45 hungry and dedicated teachers at Cedar Drive Public School in Scarborough.

Dalhousie Women's and Gender Studies SocietyHalifax, NS
Fundraising Goal: $5000

The Dalhousie Women's and Gender Studies Society will host a fundraiser with the Halifax Slam Poetry Team, where the topic of the evening will be sex. Understanding the vital role gender equality plays in Turning the Tide on AIDS in Africa, this bold endeavour exemplifies a united front to contest gender discrimination, create common bonds across continents and provide support to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. 

Megan Leslie MPOttawa, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

Halifax MP Megan Leslie's daring attire will certainly be turning heads on Parliament Hill.  Dawning a so'wester (maritime fisher hat) in caucus meetings, in the House, and while being interviewed, Megan will be highlighting the commitment of herself and her constituents to turning the tide of AIDS in Africa, and raising funds in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Frances BauerLondon, ON
Fundraising Goal: $2,160

Frances is daring herself to learn how to shear her labradoodle named Phoebe, as a way of saving a lot of money on grooming costs over Phoebe's lifetime and producing dog hair to ward away the squirrels who might otherwise snack on her spring bulbs. She has estimated the amount of money that she will save by grooming Phoebe at home, and will raise that amount for communities in Africa!

Kristin RoeHalifax, NS
Fundraising Goal: $500

Kristin Roe will wear her swim cap and goggles to work for the day on Tuesday, October 6th. But this is just a drop in the bucket - in July 2010, Kristin will swim the English Channel in an effort to raise $100,000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Nova Scotia Gambia Association.

Visit the News page to read an article about Kristin's dare in The Chronicle Herald.

SFU Health Sciences HSCI130 StudentsBurnaby, BC
Fundraising Goal: $15,000

Professor Rochelle Tucker has dared the students of her Simon Fraser University Health Sciences class to each take on a dare during the week of the challenge.  As a passionate advocate for health issues and with a true desire to promote global health issues among her students, she has brought awareness of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Dare to Remember Campaign.  Sparked by their professor's challenge, her students have overwhelmingly responded.  So far, over 35 students have registered and are excited to be performing their unique dares.  Ranging from selling their art work, administering hugs, and no-texting for a week to performing the tango, jumping into the ocean and hiking up and down Burnaby Mountain everday for a week, the students of SFUHS are a committed to mobilizing in support of community-based initiatives to stop the spread of AIDS in Africa.

Society for the Appreciation of Great Literature (SAGL)Breadalbane, PEI
Fundraising Goal: $300

The members of SAGL have challenged themselves to read every book they can find - fiction or fact - about HIV and AIDS. Their dare is to read, learn, and raise money for communities in Africa!

Lululemon AthleticaBanff, AB
Fundraising Goal: $2,000

The staff at lululemon athletica in Banff, Alberta have each challenged one another to "Dare to Do One Thing a Day That Scares You"  and to perform their dare during the week of the challenge. Some individual dares include: eating no wheat for a month; going vegan for a week; doing 100 consecutive sun salutations in the lululemon store; and working as a human mannequin in the store window for a day!

Hannah Margaret LunnBanff, AB
Fundraising Goal: $200

Hannah will be searching for new meal ideas on account of the Dare to Remember Campaign.  She has dared to adopt a vegan lifestyle for the entire week!

Marshall McLuhan Seventies Stash CampaignToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $100

The Marshall McLuhan Seventies Stash Campaign at Marshall McLuhan High School will let it all g(r)o(w) in an amusing dare.  The male members of the school staff will grow seventies style mustaches during the month of October.  During the Dare to Remember Week, students and staff will be raising money and sporting their new looks for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Massey CollegeToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $250

Members of Massey College are committed to creating a powerful image promoting AIDS awareness.  In solidarity with those living with HIV/AIDS in Africa, the Massey College community will be making a human red ribbon somewhere in downtown Toronto.  Be on the look-out during the Dare to Remember Week for this bold collaborative effort.

Anna JefferyMontreal, QC
Fundraising Goal: $500

Anna has dared herself to engage in an act of kindness.  Being mindful of others, she is intent on providing something they may not have.  She will be cutting off most of her hair and donating it to a wig-making foundation for children.

Jackie DowlingCalgary, AB
Fundraising Goal: $250

Jackie (from Calgary/Cape Town Canada World Youth) is making a bold statement in raising awareness for people living with AIDS in Africa.  She plans on getting her message across without even opening her mouth.  Jackie has dared to remain silent for 24 hours.

Katimavik GroupCharlottetown, PEI
Fundraising Goal: $300

Lily Carlson and her Katimavik friends are hard at work perfecting their dance steps.  During the Dare to Remember Week, the Charlottetown-based group will be performing Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' dance all over the city. 

Glenn E. ThibeaultOttawa, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

Glenn will be on the look-out for good deeds.  Having been dared to become a superhero for the week, he will spring into action helping out at the local food bank and serving as a school crossing guard.

Scott GillardHalifax, NS
Fundraising Goal: $500

Scott Gillard will be wearing hot pink sweat pants and a hot pink hoodie to work for 5 hilarious and memorable days.  He will even post photos of his humiliation on his facebook page. 

Dannielle MacdonaldVancouver, BC
Fundraising Goal: $500

Danielle Macdonald is having a Tex-Mex Chili Cook-off. She is inviting guests to bring a batch of their best chili and to taste test everyone elses.  The cook with the best chili will win a case of beer!

HUGGS African FeastHornby Island, BC
Fundraising Goal: $2,000

The HUGGS grandmothers group (Hornby's Unique Grandmothers & Grand Sisters) are holding a community dinner on October 24th featuring African cuisine cooked and served by grandmothers.  There will also be a silent auction and African music, and the hall will be decorated with beautiful African tablecloths and handmade napkin rings.

Stratford Runners and Walkers (RAW)Stratford, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,000

Stratford RAW is daring all the walkers and runners in the Stratford area to run or walk part of the distance across Africa. That's over 7,000 kilometers! Members can count all their training runs/walks in 2009 up to - and including - the week beginning Oct 17th. They are excited to see how far they can go!

McGill University's Human Art AttackMontreal, PQ
Fundraising Goal: $2,000

A group of students at McGill University are organizing an "art attack" - hundreds of students will come together to form a human piece of art on the campus' main lawn.

Sheena McDonaldToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

On a sunny day in October, Sheena will finally try skydiving!

Matt LeslieGuelph, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

Matt and his friend Payge will roam there respective university campuses (in Guelph, ON and London, UK) as human signboards! They will spend a day in jumpsuits, and will ask people to sign them to show their support for people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Matt and Payge have both chosen October 19th as the day they will each spend as a human signboard. And they have arranged for friends to take pictures throughout the day, as proof that they completed their dare.

Gary DobkoCalgary, AB
Fundraising Goal: $500

Gary will wear a wetsuit and inflatable arm bands everywhere he goes, every day, for a week!

Kathryn TrevenenOttawa, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,500

Kathryn will dare to be a guest professor for the math course MAT 4996/5187: Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, taught by her good natured friend Dr. Robert Smith, an actual real-life math professor and big supporter of the SLF.

But wait you say...isn't this the same Kathryn Trevenen who almost failed grade 10 math, doesn't know a quadratic equation from a pythagorean theorem and can't calculate the change from the simplest financial transaction?  Well yes...that's why it's a dare.  She promises to stand in front of a skeptical crowd of university math students and try to teach them something about mathematical modelling... in the presence of a witness who will document the madness and assure all of you that she indeed go through with it!

Surya L GovenderVancouver, BC
Fundraising Goal: $500

In preparation for Halloween and All Souls Day, Surya is organising a dinner to honour passed souls. She will be making masks for the guests and small shrines to celebrate the dead.  Guests will snack on locally-sourced tapas style goodness and sip locally-produced wine.  All craft materials will be provided, she is just asking her guests to bring their creativity and their appetite!

Denise ShoesmithToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,000

Denise is daring herself to give up television for one month and read ten books instead.  Her dare starts September 25th and ends on the last day of the Dare to Remember campaign - October 25th.    Thirty days without Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert or her friends on Coronation Street!  Yikes - say it ain't so!

Angela QuinlanOttawa, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,500

Angela is a member of 'Peter Cochrane's Grannies', one of the Stephen Lewis Foundation's many grandmothers to grandmothers groups across Canada. She is an avid race-walker and will be daring to take on the Dublin Marathon on October 26th.

Carol DevineToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $250

Carol will be paddlesurfing in the Toronto Harbour every day during the Dare Week - barring tornadoes, frozen water etc - wearing an "anti-violence against women and children" tshirt over her wetsuit, and inviting guests along her floating SLF support vessel!

Robyn WinsorToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

Robyn will be taking kindess to the next level October 17-25. She is commiting to fulfill 50 random acts of kindness in a week: that's 7 acts a day!
 

Sam BensonToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

Sam will be hosting a dinner for 10 with a friend using locally sourced ingredients. They are even promising a performance of their signature piece Paradise by the Dashboard Light. That is, unless people donate for them not to!

Chloe CorcoranSaskatoon, SK
Fundraising Goal: $1000

Chloe is planning to make her friends feel cozy and welcome by hosting a dinner featuring their favourite ‘comfort foods’. The night will feature a special guest star: a grandmother from a local Grandmothers to Grandmothers group has been invited to speak at the dinner.

May ChazanOttawa, ON
Fundraising Goal: $200

May is daring her entire household to park their car for the week of the challenge and instead rely exclusively on their feet, bikes and, if absolutely necessary, public transport to get around. They used to be quite good at minimizing their use of fossil fuels, but with a toddler in the mix, it became more challenging. However, it is surely possible, even in October and especially for such a good cause!

Alexandra BonoLondon, UK
Fundraising Goal: $200

Alexandra will travel 26.2 miles through Berlin… on rollerblades. She will take part in the Berlin Rollerblading Marathon, dodging tramlines and wurst in a bid to finish her first ever marathon and to raise funds for A Dare to Remember. She has already surpassed her goal of $200, so is heading for more!

Grant JohnstoneBrampton, ON
Fundraising Goal: $500

Grant is planning on borrowing a large (preferably red) canoe, covering it in Stephen Lewis Foundation advertisements and parading it through 5km of Toronto's busy downtown core, hopefully raising some eyebrows and some cash in the process.

Anne MacKenzie-RiversMississauga, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,000

Anne is putting a spin on the Dare to Dine theme, by hosting an open house dinner and dance party!

Esther StewartToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $1,776

Nine-year old Esther has always wanted to go to the top of the CN Tower… and this year she is going to get there, one step at a time.

There are 1,776 stairs to the Tower’s main observation deck, so from now until October, Esther will take the stairs everywhere she goes until she has climbed 1,776 stairs to represent her journey up the CN Tower. She is hoping to raise $1 per stair. Once she has climbed 1,776 stairs in her neighbourhood, she will travel to Toronto and go up the Tower (taking the elevator) to see the view from the top.

Joanna HenryToronto, ON
Fundraising Goal: $2,000

Joanna will write and perform a stand up comedy routine at a Toronto comedy venue… despite her paralyzing fear of audiences!

You give her money, she’ll be funny.

Mahjong mAIDSVictoria, BC
Fundraising Goal: $2500

A group of friends who regularly play Mahjong together are forming a team and daring themselves to play for 12 hours, in a mahjongathon!

Heather A MacKenzieEdmonton, AB
Fundraising Goal: $10,000

Heather will be in Zambia from September - November 2009, working in partnership with a school for orphans and researching for her Masters in International Development Studies. 

While there, she will bungee jump off Victoria Falls to raise money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.  The drop is 111m down to the Zambezi river below, and she is absolutely terrified! But 2 friends have dared her… and she is convinced it will be a worthwhile experience for a worthwhile cause!