When Shaggy called on Alaine to participate in the upcoming 2010 edition of Dare to Care, the singer and (classically trained pianist) jumped at the opportunity, but her eagerness was laced with a direct personal connection to the cause.

The loss, four years ago, of a god-sister from retinal tumours (she was 12) proved a valuable reminder to appreciate one’s own gift of life and health and concurrently to embrace opportunities to give back so others may be spared.

“Our kids need a chance … a chance to live and to be healthy and experience life,” she said, continuing by giving props to Shaggy saying, “his heart is so big, and what he’s doing should be more widely emulated. This is just such a fabulous project, and I’m so grateful that he considered me to be a part of it.”

Of course, big stages are becoming par for the course for the lithe singer (and dancer). Earlier this year, she played to rapturous crowds in Japan (“that’s my place,” she exclaims, “the energy there is so fantastic.”) and closer to home, in French Guiana. She also had the pleasure of playing Amsterdam’s Park Pop Festival to a total audience of over 100,000.

And there’s more to come, she hints, but won’t give any specifics right now about her upcoming schedule. She’ll also be busy in the studio, but will concentrating on singles rather than on a full-length CD, having previously released Rub-A-Dub fore the Japanese market.

Those multiple dates and obligations (and airports) must take their toll even on one so young and vibrant. So how does she stay that that way? “I’m big on yoga, been doing it for almost a year now, plus Pilates and walking and I try my best to eat right — I just wish carrots tasted more like [French] fries”

That’s one Utopian wish that may not come true, but Alaine’s desire to see better health care for Jamaican children is one which both she and the Dare To Care organisers are determined to see come true.