A small group of Dufferin-area women Saturday raised about $2,000 in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation by bringing world-renowned Tanglefoot to the Orangeville Opera House.

The 15-member group - Go Go Grannies - is an offshoot of Orangeville Women's University Club. It was formed to raise funds for African children left destitute through that country's AIDS epidemic, a cause heavily supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Tanglefoot, said Grannies member Elizabeth Szekeres, is a Canadian country music group founded 20 years ago by Steve Ritchie of Owen Sound. Its lyrics are mostly original, based on Canadiana, she said.

Although local and homegrown, Tanglefoot tours internationally through Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and is accustomed to full houses wherever it goes. "They're a shoe-in," said Ms. Szekeres. "When you have Tanglefoot, you have a full house."

Saturday night in Orangeville was no exception. All 280 seats sold at $20 each.

When one considers the number of AIDS victims there are in Africa, $2,000 doesn't sound like a lot of money. But Ms. Szekeres said things are cheaper in Africa, even if everyone has to pay for their own schooling and other things.

Grannies (not all of whom are grandmothers) were women touched by Mr. Lewis's story of an African grandmother who had lost her own children to AIDS, and who had taken in 32 orphans aged from infancy to 16 without knowing how she would support them.

They agreed with Mr. Lewis's daughter, who said it would be a great thing if Canadian grandmothers would be put in touch with their African counterparts in efforts to support the children.

Grannies does have small fundraisers for that purpose, and Ms. Szekeres said a donation of even $5 goes a long way in Africa. Saturday night was the group's first major fundraising effort - but there are likely more to come.

Ms. Szekeres said anyone wishing to join the group should call Chris Elms at 519-942-5932.