Charles Joynes, the principal of Northlands Primary School, isn’t thrilled about the idea of kissing a pig in front of scores of onlookers next week.

And ever since his students picked that as his dare for Big Brothers Big Sisters “How much would you pay to see me…?” fundraiser, Mr Joynes hasn’t been able to get the image of pigs rolling through mud and eating slop out of his head.

“When I think about the dare, what comes to mind is it’s very gross,” he said. “As a child there was a pig farm by my house so I would see them dump the slop into different pens so that’s the big challenge for me. Now I have to put my lips on the pig’s lips.”

But Mr Joynes, a former Big Brothers mentor, will be going through with his dare in honour of a worthy charity, live on stage at next Wednesday’s Harbour Nights event.

Dares have also been given many other well known community figures — including Senator Jeff Baron, MP Wayne Furbert, Town Crier Ed Christopher, DJ Bitsy, Kristin White, Bermuda Football Association’s Andrew Griffith, Chris Famous, Don Burgess, Dwayne Caines, Miss Bermuda Katie Arnfield, DJ Chubb & Sherri Berri, Radio personalities ‘Fancy’ and Brother Richie — and Chewstick’s Gavin (Djata) Smith.

Each contestant is hoping to raise at least $1,500 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda — the money comes at a time when the mentoring charity, like many others in Bermuda, is facing hard economic times.

“We realise that in order for us to continue servicing the youth of Bermuda we must come up with new and innovative ways to raise funds,” said BBBS’s Patrina O’Connor-Paynter.

“The event was a success in 2012, therefore we have decided to do it again this year. Our contestants are amazing and we are looking forward to a great show.”

One of the most highly anticipated dares of the night will likely be Senator Jeff Baron’s.

A host of female admirers requested they would like to see him do a ‘sexy’ performance at next week’s event.

Mr Baron will also be “auctioned off” to the highest bidder and has agreed to go to someone’s house to cook dinner for them and their friends.

As a parent and a politician, Mr Baron said he was weary about doing anything offensive or inappropriate.

But seeing that the ultimate goal is to raise money for a “really good cause” he was willing to step out of his comfort zone a bit.

“I always have my eyes and ears open and available for BBBS,” he said. “I was actually a Big Brother for eight years and know the importance of being a positive mentor to some of our youth who may need another adult figure in their lives.

“So when I was told about this event I saw it as a great opportunity to help out.”

He encourages people to give whatever they can to the cause and said he wants the charity to walk away with lots of money — and a big smile.

“It’s such an important role to be a mentor and something that impacts young people in a big way,” he said. “I still speak with my Little Brother and he is not little anymore, he’s in his 20s. He still calls me his Big Brother.”

Andrew Griffith isn’t quite as happy about his dare — which will see him dress up in drag and sing Whitney Houston’s iconic ballad I’m Every Woman.

His first reaction when he heard what his dare would be was “I’m not doing that”, however, he has since come around.

“I still find this really hard to do,” Mr Griffith explained. “I tried to get some other dares arranged, but no one would let me do those because they weren’t embarrassing enough.

“I tease people when they do things like this, so I know that everything I do is going to come back to me.

“My friends have said they will record it and put it on YouTube so I have that to look forward to, but there will also be people at Harbour Nights who see me.”

What’s keeping Mr Griffith going is the knowledge the money raised will go to an important cause.

He said he knows a few people who have volunteered as Big Brothers in the past and has seen first hand the positive difference the programme can make in the lives of young people.

Anyone interested in making a donation towards one of the contestants can visit: www.bermudatix.bm. Just click on the “How Much Would You Pay To See Me…?” link.

For more information contact the BBBS office on 232-2802 or e-mail bbbs@logic.bm.