Free Hugs Across Canada! :)

Free Hugs Across Canada Adventure!

My name is Michele Dionne and I am the host of the online radio show the Positive Power Hour on the Playfair Music Audio Stream. My daughter Nicole and I are planning on driving across Canada from Sarnia, Ontario to Chilliwack, British Columbia July 26-Aug 7th 2015 spreading the word on the power of positivity and participating in free hug campaigns in random cities all along the way. We want to talk to regular Canadians and see what makes them happy, see what makes their heart humm :) The entire trip will be videotaped and a youtube video will be available to watch online upon our return plus we will be be calling into the PFM Audio Stream and SRTAR radio shows regularly keeping everyone updated on our progress. :) We are looking for local companies to sponsor us for this amazing adventure! We will be advertising for all our sponsors at every stop plus they will be featured in our video and listed in the credits as a sponsor. We will also gladly hand out their cards and promotional gear along the way! Any personal donations are also appreciated and those people will also be listed in the credits of the documentary. We accept gas cards for any major gas station and if your interested we will also interview you for the documentary! :) I cannot even express how much we appreciate the help we are getting from the community! We are trying to make the trip as cheap as possible, staying with as much family as we can along the way but we need a reliable vehicle, gas and food. If you are interested in sponsoring or donating to this great adventure please e-mail Michele michele@sarniarocks.com or Nicole nicole@sarniarocks.com.

Why Hugging?

Have you hugged anyone lately? When did you have a hug that lasted over 10 seconds? It has been proven that hugging can create such an energy bond that the participants instantaneously feel an improved state. The logical explanation of this phenomenon is that a person with high levels of oxytocin in their system is more likely to be a lot happier therefore flood you with positive emotions through hugging and therefore make you happier. The many benefits of hugging include upbeat moods, lowered heart rates/blood pressure, reduced levels of cortisol (stress hormone), increased levels of oxytocin (bonding hormone), boosts the immune system, builds self- esteem and more! Plus it is portable and it doesn’t cost a cent!

In 2004 the Free Hugs Movement was created by Australian Juan Mann. He first offered Free Hugs on the 30th of June, 2004 in Sydney's Pitt Street Mall. It began as a simple way for him to pick himself up and to pull himself out of depression. It just so happened to put a smile on the faces of everyone who passed him by plus those who stopped to share a Free Hug. It grew to be a weekly event until in January 2005 offering Free Hugs was banned! With the support of his friends who had been gathering regularly Juan put together a petition lobbying the City of Sydney to have the ban on Free Hugs lifted, allowing everyone in the city to share in this awesome inspirational movement. After collecting 10,000 signatures and presenting them to the Council, Juan Mann and his friends were once again allowed to share their Free Hugs within the city of Sydney and continue to do so. In September 2006, a video was uploaded to YouTube sharing this simple story. Between then and now people all over the world have joined the movement by gathering in busy locations and holding up Free Hug signs.

Free Hugs have hit Sarnia on multiple occasions so if you see people holding up FREE HUG signs pop over and give them a hug. It will do your body and your mind some good.