Humour Me, featuring Jeremy Hotz, to raise million-dollar laughs for Breakthrough T1D 

On October 23, 2025, some of Canada’s top business leaders are trading boardrooms for bright lights—all to help accelerate breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.   

At Humour Me, they will step out of their comfort zones and take the stage with original stand-up comedy routines vying for the title of “Funniest Amateur”, while raising critical funds to support  Breakthrough T1D’s $100M Campaign to Accelerate.  

Organized by the David Goodman Youth Community Trust and, in 2025, presented by Brookfield, Humour Me applies a twist to the typical stand-up routine by bringing together professional comedians and influential, high-profile amateurs to perform together.  

This year’s headliner is none other than Jeremy Hotz. One of the most unique stand-up comics working today, Canadian-born Jeremy Hotz is a proven international success. With sold-out Canadian tours, as well as performances all over the U.S., Europe and Australia, Jeremy continues to grab audiences with his completely original and confused, yet very astute, observational comedy. He also boasts numerous awards for his comedy, writing, and performances on TV shows like The Newsroom.  

An event with a legacy of giving back, now directed to T1D research 

Humour Me is an iconic comedy fundraiser that has generated over $25 million for worthy causes over the past 15 years, and we’re thrilled to turn the spotlight on T1D research this year on October 23 at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto.   

Lori Pearson, Vice-Chair of presenting sponsor Brookfield and one of the brave amateur comedians, shares her family’s story and why the proceeds from this event are important to them: 

 

“When our daughter Ginny was 7, her life changed forever, as did our family’s. Ginnie was extremely sick, so we took her to SickKids Hospital, where she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. About a week later, when we had returned from the hospital, I was sitting with Ginny when she asked, ‘So, when do the needles stop?’ It broke our hearts. Fast-forward over 20 years to today, and Ginny still battles with the daily highs and lows of T1D. Thanks to donor-funded research, she now wears an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor, so there are fewer needles and pokes. However, the constant fear of complications, carb-counting, and the mental health impacts of the disease will always live with her until we have a cure. That’s why giving to T1D research is important to us, whether it leads to a cure in the long-term, more short-term ways of improving disease management, or preventing it for those who have not been diagnosed yet.” 

Lori is terrified by the thought of delivering a stand-up routine in front of hundreds, but says she is willing to step WAY out of her comfort zone for the cause – a sentiment shared by most who brave the legendary Elgin stage at Humour Me. Other comedians include Andrew Oliver, whose sister Vanessa and late father Peter famously left their own comfort zones at ground level when they courageously camped atop flagpoles for T1D research.   

The 2025 Humour Me comedians are: 

To see these brave souls rack up the laughs—and dollars—for T1D research, consider sponsoring the event, taking place Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Learn more at https://humourme.ca/sponsorships/