I'm the GREATEST HUGGER on the internet!
- Jean-Philippe Marier, Founder of the HUG4LOVE movement
I’m Jean-Philippe Marier from Canada, and since February 2022, I’ve been hugging people around the world every single day. I started this movement after realizing how much the pandemic impacted people’s mental well-being.
My mission is to to inspire people to hug for love (HUG4LOVE) and build a community where people enhance their EXPERIENCE OF LIFE with hug therapy and letting go!
Over the past 912 days, 69 people joined me on an hug adventure, giving 25,716 hugs across 51 countries.
Vision
Create 1 million hugs worldwide and invite 1000 people on a hug adventure
Progress
Days in a row: 912
Hug buddies: 69 / 1,000
Hugs given: 25,716 / 1,000,000
Countries hugged: 51 / 195
Kilometers walked: 6418 km
Values
Life experience
Contribution
Growth
Give hugs and let go to live your dream life
Hug adventure alongside the Founder
YOU are invited to a new unique life experience of distributing hugs alongside the FOUNDER OF THE HUG4LOVE movement.
This hug therapy session will transform your life!
Previous Hug adventures & testimonials
Day 765 – Hug adventure with Camille in Montreal, Canada
Day 646 – Hug adventure with Joe in Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia
Day 770 – Hug adventure with Kouki in Montreal, Canada
Day 726 – Hug adventure with Jessica in Montreal, Canada
Day 760 – Hug adventure with Alaanah in Montreal, Canada
Day 719 – Hug adventure with Annalena in Montreal, Canada
More details about hug adventure
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
-3 hours of free hug adventure alongside the founder where you’ll get a cocktail of healthy happiness hormone and a magic feeling of contribution to others by offering free hugs.
-A video summary of our adventure posted on Youtube and other social media. *(See video example here)
-You’ll be part of history by getting your official HUG4LOVE hug number by hugging me.
-You’ll get the exclusive ”HUG4LOVE WELL-BEING STATUS” by having your name written forever on the HUG4LOVE website as being a ”Well-Being Contributor”. *(See the list here)
-A unique piece of art bracelet with your ”hug buddy” number.
-Positive visibility on your social media for your BRAND on all platforms
PLANNING OF THE ADVENTURE
1. We will meet a at certain time and location discussed per email and talk a little bit to get to know each other.
2. We install the free hug sign, we start walking together, we talk, laugh, visit the area, and most of all, we seek people that wants to get their free hugs. I shoot videos about our awesome journey. I’ll also ask your questions about well-being, mental health and psychology.
3. I’ll give you the EXCLUSIVE ”HUG4LOVE WELL-BEING STATUS” that shows the world that you are a well-being contributor.
4. Few days later, you’ll see the video of our journey on Youtube.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
1. If it rains we can reschedule
2. Better wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes
3. If you want a free hug sign like mine over your head, you must bring your backpack that has a laptop compartment to hold the rod.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Send an email at: julie@hug4love.com that contain:
1. The dates and location where you want to go on a free hug adventure
2. A link of a video of at least 45 seconds of you talking and describing yourself. Tell me about you, your passion, hobbies, interests and background. Show me that you have enough energy to participate and that you would be a good fit for the movement.
After your request made, I will get back to you. *(Your acceptance or refusal is based on the date, the location and your energy level in the video)
RULES
1. Most important rule : RESPECT OF EVERYONE
2. We are here for only one reason : Contribute to other people’s well-being while living a unique fun life experience and improve our own well-being.
3. No vulgarities will be tolerated, no alcohol, no drugs, no flirting, we stay 100% professionnal 100% of the time.
4. We are just respectfully, politely, showing our willingness to receive hugs and we wait for people to come to hug us.
5. We do not hug people, we let them hug us first.
6. You’ll have to sign a release of liability.
Want to support this worldwide well-being mission ?
My formula to improve WELL-BEING
There are multiple ways to take care of our well-being. Here are 3 steps that works for me, therefore, I’m inviting you to give it a try.
Step 1: Growth
Learn and get to know yourself by stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things. Maybe starting a big or small adventure and realize your growth. You can learn with books and videos as well.
You can get inspire by other people stories and grow through their adventure!
Step 2: Contribution
One of the best way to improve our well-being is by giving, helping and contributing to others.
If you define how you like to help others, you can really make a difference for them and experience self-fulfillment!
Step 3: Life experience
Define and live new experience like visiting new country, trying new activities, new restaurant, new sports, new hobby.
Exploring will take your focus out of your problems and on enjoying that new thing you are doing.
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER BELOW
Interview on TV in Kosovo
Article in the Montreal Newspaper in French
Article in the middle east urban web journal
ABOUT the founder
My name is Jean-Philippe Marier, I’m from Quebec, Canada.
After seeing the negative impact of the pandemic and the social distancing measures on people’s mental well-being, I started to think about ways to help.
Since lots of people were missing physical touch and that a hug has so many benefits including improving mental well-being, I thought: ”I will give free hugs everyday, everywhere around the world to everyone who wants”. That’s how HUG4LOVE is born.
Than I decided to mix my project with my biggest passion: self-development.
In order for me to reach my dream life of travelling the world and giving hugs to thousands of people, I had to transform. I had to change my mindset, grow my self-love (self-esteem) and learn how to discipline every area of my life (Physical health, Mindset health, Relationship health, emotional health, Financial health)
I’m currently giving hugs daily, inviting people to join me on a hug adventure and I’m interviewing them to know their inspiring life/hug stories.
I’m doing it to give love and build a community where people enhance their EXPERIENCE OF LIFE through hugs and self-love.
I started the Movement in February 2022 by giving the first hug in Montreal, Canada and I never stopped. Watch my adventures around the world on Youtube
Contact:
Jean-Philippe, founder: jp@hug4love.com
Julie, purveyor of heartsease : julie@hug4love.com
HUG4LOVE WELL-BEING STATUS
The HUG4LOVE WELL-BEING STATUS (HWS) is THE exclusive worldwide symbol confirming that you’re a well-being contributors.
The only way an individual can get it is by participating in a free hug adventure with me!
EMAIL for details: hug4love1@gmail.com
Free HUG adventures of the past
More than 66 person worldwide decided to join me on a FREE HUGS adventure to improve the well-being of others. The ”HUG BUDDIES” have shown that they care enough about people to distribute free hugs as act of kindness and love. Here’s a list (see below) of the people who came with me and some of videos of FREE HUGS ADVENTURE!
All those people received the HUG4LOVE WELL-BEING STATUS that shows the world that they care about other human being.
Now it’s your turn to join me on a free hug adventure! You can simply write to me on Instagram, click the button below to have access!
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Day 481 – Nanita Shoniya
Koh Samui, Thailand – Day 623 – Sasitorn Thaksin
Koh Samui, Thailand – Day 625 – Buse
Koh Samui, Thailand – Day 629 – Nattaya Marakbut
Krabi, Thailand – Day 640 – Anna & Loui
Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia – Day 647 – Kim
Montreal, Canada – Day 698 – Jessica
Montreal, Canada – Day 696 – Catherine
Montreal, Canada – Day 740 – Rafaelle
List of all the HUG buddies
| # | Free hug buddy | Day | Date | City | Country | # of hug stories |
| 1 | Florence | 186 | 26/08/2022 | Montreal | Canada | 105 |
| 2 | Nathalie | 220 | 29/09/2022 | Montreal | Canada | 70 |
| 3 | Clémence | 221 | 30/09/2022 | Montreal | Canada | 45 |
| 4 | Daniel Marier | 242 | 21/10/2022 | Montreal | Canada | 49 |
| 5 | Léa | 270 | 18/11/2022 | Montreal | Canada | 60 |
| 6 | Justine | 340 | 27/01/2023 | Essaouira | Morocco | 27 |
| 7 | Bob | 343 | 30/01/2023 | Marrakesh | Morocco | 45 |
| 8 | Lukas | 365 | 21/02/2023 | Barcelona | Spain | 59 |
| 9 | Saida | 375 | 03/03/2023 | Sidi bou Said | Tunisia | 52 |
| 10 | Francis | 375 | 03/03/2023 | Sidi bou Said | Tunisia | 52 |
| 11 | Amal | 379 | 07/03/2023 | Tunis | Tunisia | 73 |
| 12 | Maren | 390 | 18/03/2023 | Cairo | Egypt | 18 |
| 13 | Ismail | 400 | 28/03/2023 | Amman | Jordan | 17 |
| 14 | Alone | 401 | 29/03/2023 | Amman | Jordan | 27 |
| 15 | Santiago | 420 | 17/04/2023 | Antalya | Turkey | 21 |
| 16 | Deniz | 423 | 20/04/2023 | Antalya | Turkey | 39 |
| 17 | Lili | 425 | 22/04/2023 | Fethiye | Turkey | 46 |
| 18 | Dilchad | 426 | 23/04/2023 | Fethiye | Turkey | 16 |
| 19 | Janna Butulyan | 441 | 08/05/2023 | Erevan | Armenia | 65 |
| 20 | Lusine Arushanian | 442 | 09/05/2023 | Erevan | Armenia | 27 |
| 21 | Pantea Yoosefi | 443 | 10/05/2023 | Erevan | Armenia | 27 |
| 22 | Karine | 443 | 10/05/2023 | Erevan | Armenia | 27 |
| 23 | Zara Sahakyan | 444 | 11/05/2023 | Erevan | Armenia | 43 |
| 24 | Talant Sagynbaev | 448 | 15/05/2023 | Osh | Kyrgyzstan | 43 |
| 25 | Kural Chokoev | 451 | 18/05/2023 | Bishkek | Kyrgyzstan | 78 |
| 26 | Saadi Kozhobekov | 452 | 19/05/2023 | Bishkek | Kyrgyzstan | 40 |
| 27 | Suli Phonechik | 455 | 22/05/2023 | Bishkek | Kyrgyzstan | 32 |
| 28 | Ria | 456 | 23/05/2023 | Bishkek | Kyrgyzstan | 63 |
| 29 | Aglan Akpan | 464 | 31/05/2023 | Almaty | Kazakhstan | 64 |
| 30 | Sholpan | 473 | 09/06/2023 | Almaty | Kazakhstan | 55 |
| 31 | Angelina | 474 | 10/06/2023 | Almaty | Kazakhstan | 59 |
| 32 | Kbakhyt | 476 | 12/06/2023 | Almaty | Kazakhstan | 51 |
| 33 | Nanita Shoniya | 481 | 17/06/2023 | Bishkek | Kyrgyzstan | 16 |
| 34 | Nasiba | 501 | 07/07/2023 | Dushanbe | Tajikistan | 29 |
| 35 | Makenzie | 552 | 27/08/2023 | Hanoi | Vietnam | 32 |
| 36 | Kyand | 559 | 03/09/2023 | Ha long | Vietnam | 15 |
| 37 | Martina | 576 | 20/09/2023 | Phnom Penh | Cambodia | 54 |
| 38 | Michel | 594 | 08/10/2023 | Vang vieng | Laos | 24 |
| 39 | sasitorn thaksin | 623 | 06/11/2023 | Koh Samui | Thailand | 40 |
| 40 | Buse | 625 | 08/11/2023 | Koh Samui | Thailand | 77 |
| 41 | Nattaya Marakbut | 629 | 12/11/2023 | Koh Samui | Thailand | 35 |
| 42 | Momay | 635 | 18/11/2023 | Koh Samui | Thailand | 33 |
| 43 | Anna | 638 | 21/11/2023 | Phuket | Thailand | 40 |
| 44 | Loui | 640 | 23/11/2023 | Krabi | Thailand | 23 |
| 45 | Marlene | 641 | 24/11/2023 | Krabi | Thailand | 34 |
| 46 | Vivian | 644 | 27/11/2023 | Georgetown | Malaysia | 23 |
| 47 | Joe | 646 | 29/11/2023 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 36 |
| 48 | Kim | 647 | 30/11/2023 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 41 |
| 49 | Samantha | 649 | 02/12/2023 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 42 |
| 50 | Bhupi | 650 | 03/12/2023 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 25 |
| 51 | Herman | 655 | 08/12/2023 | Jakarta | Indonesia | 15 |
| 52 | Jing | 656 | 09/12/2023 | Jakarta | Indonesia | 29 |
| 53 | Kendra | 658 | 11/12/2023 | Yogyakarta | Indonesia | 50 |
| 54 | Aurelie | 659 | 12/12/2023 | Yogyakarta | Indonesia | 20 |
| 55 | Clarisse | 660 | 13/12/2023 | Yogyakarta | Indonesia | 8 |
| 56 | Magali | 676 | 29/12/2023 | Montreal | Canada | 36 |
| 57 | Syrine | 678 | 31/12/2023 | Montreal | Canada | 18 |
| 58 | Catherine | 695 | 17/01/2024 | Montreal | Canada | 27 |
| 59 | Jessica | 698 | 20/01/2024 | Montreal | Canada | 31 |
| 60 | Annalena | 719 | 10/02/2024 | Montreal | Canada | 62 |
| 61 | Jessica | 726 | 17/02/2024 | Montreal | Canada | 41 |
| 62 | Rafaelle | 740 | 02/03/2024 | Montreal | Canada | 15 |
| 63 | Cathy Fuoco | 756 | 18/03/2024 | Montreal | Canada | 41 |
| 64 | Alaanah | 760 | 22/03/2024 | Montreal | Canada | 54 |
| 65 | Camille | 765 | 27/03/2024 | Montreal | Canada | 49 |
| 66 | Kouki | 770 | 01/04/2024 | Montreal | Canada | 47 |
ITINERARY
On June 1st, 2024, after 831 days in a row, 21,688 hugs were given in 51 countries on 4 continents (North America, Europe, Africa, Asia). And more than 66 ”hug buddies” came to give free hugs to strangers with me. Below you can see the number of people I gave hugs per country. Watch all my expeditions on YOUTUBE
Number of hugs per country
| Day # | Country | Number of hugs |
| 1 | Canada | 7788 |
| 2 | France | 183 |
| 3 | Greece | 435 |
| 4 | Bulgaria | 206 |
| 5 | North Macedonia | 188 |
| 6 | Albania | 448 |
| 7 | Montenegro | 400 |
| 8 | Croatia | 434 |
| 9 | Kosovo | 216 |
| 10 | Serbia | 175 |
| 11 | Romania | 240 |
| 12 | Hungary | 231 |
| 13 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 36 |
| 14 | Italy | 63 |
| 15 | Slovenia | 124 |
| 16 | Austria | 267 |
| 17 | Slovakia | 114 |
| 18 | Czech Republic | 95 |
| 19 | Poland | 268 |
| 20 | Germany | 111 |
| 21 | Lithuania | 79 |
| 22 | Latvia | 120 |
| 23 | Estonia | 229 |
| 24 | Portugal | 6 |
| 25 | USA | 52 |
| 26 | United Kingdom | 8 |
| 27 | Morocco | 828 |
| 28 | Spain | 375 |
| 29 | Tunisia | 316 |
| 30 | Egypt | 308 |
| 31 | Israel | 148 |
| 32 | Palestine | 7 |
| 33 | Jordan | 214 |
| 34 | Turkey | 552 |
| 35 | Georgia | 231 |
| 36 | Armenia | 249 |
| 37 | Kyrgyzstan | 392 |
| 38 | Kazakhstan | 761 |
| 39 | Uzbekistan | 319 |
| 40 | Tajikistan | 84 |
| 41 | UAE | 6 |
| 42 | Oman | 1 |
| 43 | India | 737 |
| 44 | Nepal | 510 |
| 45 | Vietnam | 427 |
| 46 | Cambodia | 206 |
| 47 | Thailand | 976 |
| 48 | Laos | 252 |
| 49 | Malaysia | 239 |
| 50 | Singapore | 58 |
| 51 | Indonesia | 334 |
| Total | 21046 |
Hug Stories
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Day 1 – Hug story #1
Here is the first ever hug I gave for the HUG4LOVE Movement. When this man saw my FREE HUGS T-shirt, he opened his arms and I could read a smile In his eyes! He was delighted with my act of kindness.
Athens, Greece – Day 12 – Hug story #239
When we were at the airport, I offered a hug to this lovely lady. At first she hesitated but we ended up doing it. She told me that she felt super lonely and it was her very first hug since Covid19 started ! (Meaning 23 months without hugs)
Skopje, North Macedonia – Day 40 – Hug story #895
While my morning jogging, I offered a hug to this man. He said “I love you” during our hug. Than he told me he was going through some hard time right now and this act of kindness from a stranger was exactly what he needed.
Tirana, Albania – Day 46 – Hug story #1093
In Albania, we visited the bunker named ”BUNK’ART” and we met this family coming from Spain. The Spanish man agreed for the hug but added : I’ll do it under one condition, the hug must be at least 30 seconds. It was a fun moment.
Kotor, Montenegro – Day 58 – Hug story #1553
Pavle is a waiter in the beautiful city of Kotor. I met him while he was working and the moment he saw me, he stop everything he was doing and he gave me a hug. Than he said : ”Thanks God, there is finally someone doing this here, thank you, I needed that today”.
Prevlaka, Croatia – Day 61 – Hug story #1663
I have given a hug to this man who turned out to be with all his special police force crew. To congratulate me for the movement I started, they offered us drinks and even a car ride to go back to Montenegro!
Petrovac, Montenegro – Day 65 – Hug story #1844
We met Mathis while hitchhiking with him and since we got along pretty well we all spent the afternoon together. He told me he already have giving free hugs to strangers before the pandemic.
Bucharest, Romania – Day 78 – Hug story #2397
Here’s Rob, the owner of the fabulous T5 SOCIAL HOSTEL. Seriously the best hostel that I’ve been in my life so far. Rob’s priority was always to contributing to his community and since we shared that same interest, we bonded pretty quickly.
Zagreb, Croatia – Day 87 – Hug stories #2780 & 2781
I met Sarah and Nikola at my hostel, they are from Slovakia and they decided to spend the day giving hugs to strangers with me. Their energy level was to the roof and it made lots of people laugh!
Vienna, Austria – Day 109 – Hug stories #3494 & #3495
I met this lovely couple who just got married and they wanted to keep that wedding very small. Therefore, I was their official photographer in front of the church. I had the luxury of celebration their union by hugging them both.
Warsaw, Poland – Day 126 – Hug story #4153
I hugged this young lady who was raising money to help all the Ukrainians people while they were facing such a hard and difficult time! I had so much empathy for her help.
I was very happy to give hugs to a lot of Ukrainians refugee in multiple European countries. It must be horrible to have to leave everything behind you. I felt a huge feeling of contribution when they thank me for my empathy.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Day 161 – Hug story #5959
Here’s Elizabeth! She was so happy after our hug! But her story is the most touching! She told me she didn’t hug anyone for the last 3 years! She told me how the pandemic affected her and all the challenges she had to go through. That is why I started this movement. There are lots of people waiting for their hug.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Day 165 – Hug story #6276
I met this man in the Old Port of Montreal and after the hug he said: ”Thanks, I really feel lonely lately and I don’t have a lot of hugs, so I’m grateful for what you’re doing”
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Day 178 – Hug story #7524
When getting out of the Metro station, this man saw me giving hugs and ask me for one. He told me he didn’t give or receive hugs for 3 years! I was astonished and I gave him another hug straight away! He shared that after few months without physical touch from someone else, you start feeling down.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Day 221 – Hug story #8190
I met and gave a hug to Clémence on day 216 and she was astonished by my project. She loved the idea so much that she wanted to be part of it. So we planned to meet on day 221, I gave her a official HUG4LOVE T-shirt and we change many people lives in the old port of Montreal.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Day 274 – Hug story #9416
After I gave him a hug, he told me he was waiting for a sign to start seeing a psychologist to help him. He confirmed that I was that sign and he was very grateful for my act of kindness.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Day 318 – Hug story #9941
While their truck was stopped at the red light, one firefighter came out and gave me a hug. He also wished me a happy new year and said ”Thank you for what you’re doing”
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Day 325 – Hug story #9996
While I passed by that lady, she said ” Don’t ever give up”. It’s as if she knew I needed to her those powerful words at that very moment. When I gave her a hug she said ”that really means a lot, thank you”!
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Day 325 – Hug story #10,000
Here’s Hundi, we talked for 30 minutes about lots of different things like travelling, psychology, mental health and my HUG4LOVE movement. He was very happy to see my desire to help humanity.
The hug was given exactly at the same spot as the very first hug of the HUG4LOVE Movement ten months earlier.
Montreal, Canada – Day 327 – Hug story #10,020
While I was riding the Subway, a lady offered me a donut in exchange for a hug! It was a very fun interaction, she was very impressed by my mission and told me that in fact, there is a big need for hugs.
Rabat, Morocco – Day 347 – Hug story #10,483
I had one of the nicest Moroccan experience with my friend Annas here. Shortly after we met, we formed a little group and we cooked a tagine on a fire next to the beach! Super traditional experience and it was delicious.
Fes, Morocco – Day 360 – Hug story #10,916
I was going through my Tiktok comments on my videos and this guy, Abdennacer wrote to me that if ever I was visiting his city, I could live with his family! I actually did. I met his mom, his brothers and sisters and the nephew and nieces. They were all lovely people and I was so grateful for so much kindness, so much generosity! I will always remember you my friend.