five in five

Some people fundraise by running marathons, others by growing a moustache. But with Five in Five, all you need to do is go on a date – clearly the most terrifying option of all.

Started a couple of years ago by some Melbourne ladies who believe in old-fashioned romance and doing good deeds, the challenge is for single ladies and gents to go on five dates in five weeks and have their mates sponsor them for charity. The catch is no online dating sites are allowed, so participants need to find their beaus through non-technological means: friends, friends of friends, or maybe chatting up someone in your favourite bookshop or café.

All money collected goes to organisations fighting poverty and homelessness, which somehow makes it easier to justify approaching complete strangers and asking them to lunch. The whole thing kicks off February 14th, and you can find more details here.