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Back in 1989 REMO celebrated a man who had spent 37 years of his life repeatedly (and secretly) writing a single word in chalk onto the streets of Sydney.

That man was Arthur Stace, and the word was Eternity.

It is, therefore, very fitting that almost 20 years later we should be celebrating a man who is also, with a single repeated gesture, making a difference; touching and inspiring people ... and this time all over the world.

That man is Juan Mann, and that gesture is the FREE HUG.

Every Thursday from around Noon, Juan stands in a busy plaza in the City of Sydney holding a cardboard sign that bears the hand blocked words "FREE HUGS" on both sides ... dishing out same to the bewildered, amused, comforted and delighted.

There's a chance that you already know this story. The original YouTube video (above) has been viewed a staggering 21 million times. Juan's gesture is celebrated and mimicked all over the world. He's been on Oprah. FREE HUGS has become a global phenomenon.

So, how did it all start?

Here's how Juan explains the genesis of his calling:

"I'd been living in London when my world turned upside down and I'd had to come home. By the time my plane landed back in Sydney, all I had left was a carry on bag full of clothes and a world of troubles. No one to welcome me back, no place to call home. I was a tourist in my hometown. Standing there in the arrivals terminal, watching other passengers meeting their waiting friends and family, with open arms and smiling faces, hugging and laughing together, I wanted someone out there to be waiting for me. To be happy to see me. To smile at me. To hug me. So I got some cardboard and a marker and made a sign. I found the busiest pedestrian intersection in the city and held that sign aloft, with the words "Free Hugs" on both sides. And for 15 minutes, people just stared right through me. The first person who stopped, tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug. I got down on one knee, we put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling. Everyone has problems and for sure mine haven't compared. But to see someone who was once frowning, smile even for a moment, is worth it every time."

REMO is happy and proud to be associated with FREE HUGS. In collaboration with Juan (and with a view to also helping him financially) we have developed a couple of REMO T Shirts; one bears a faithful reproduction of the FREE HUGS sign, and the other bears an image of Juan by Sydney artist Krista Brennan.

Support Juan and his inspiring work. Order a FREE HUGS T Shirt NOW. 15% of the sales proceeds go directly to Juan.

Finally, here are some FREE HUGS Links:

+ The YouTube video about FREE HUGS that got it all rolling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

+ Juan's Home Page:
http://www.juanmann.net

+ Juan's Own YouTube Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/juanmann

+ Home for the FREE HUGS Campaign:

T SHIRTS: SHORT SLEEVE: