Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity - Torontonians Come Together in Yonge-Dundas
Square to Fight AIDS in Africa at Fourth Annual Race for Dignity Challenge

TORONTO, June 4 /CNW/ - On Saturday, June 5, hundreds of Torontonians will get moving in response to HIV/AIDS in Africa at the fourth annual Race for Dignity Challenge, an 8-hour spinathon in Yonge-Dundas Square to raise funds for Dignitas International's life-saving HIV/AIDS-related work in Africa.

The event features eight hours of live entertainment, including musical performances by: Juno Award-winner Donné Roberts; BidiniBand (the new musical project from The Rheostatics' Dave Bidini); Planet Earth; Will Currie & The Country French; By Coincidence; Jeremy Glenn & the MakeShift; Jamie Flegg; Axé Capoeira Toronto; and Mercy, the Sexton. Special guests will appear onstage throughout the day. Other highlights include DJs Pammm, Sanga Genesis and Jeremy Glenn; spin instructor John Klich; face painting for the entire family; the City of Toronto's HTO to Go mobile water trailer; and a Twitter tent where those in the Square can follow the online conversation about the day's events (@LivingResults, No.4dignityTO). Those attending and those unable to participate are encouraged to support this initiative with a $5 donation by texting "LIVING" to 45678.

"The most important symbolism of this day," explained James Fraser, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Dignitas International, "is that you're really creating a sense of community here in Canada - groups of people coming together here to help communities in Africa."

Dignitas International is a Toronto-based medical humanitarian organization working to increase access to life-saving HIV/AIDS-related prevention and treatment. Dignitas is currently working in Malawi, Africa, where over 900,000 adults and children are living with HIV. Through Dignitas's work, hundreds of adults and children are gaining access each month to life-saving medications, resulting in the survival of families and the revitalization of entire communities.

The Race for Dignity Challenge is Dignitas's flagship fundraising event. Last year, Torontonians rose to the challenge and $270,000 was raised directly towards the organization's life-saving work in Malawi.

    
    WHAT      Race for Dignity Challenge

    WHEN      Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 12PM to 8PM

    WHERE     Yonge-Dundas Square, Yonge & Dundas, Downtown Toronto
    

More information can be found at RaceForDignity.com and LivingResults.org.

For further information: please contact Kathe Rogers, Communications Coordinator, [phone] x 113, [email protected], or [phone] (mobile), dignitasinternational.org