Students hit the streets for Shinerama… and the fight against cystic fibrosis

Shinerama, the annual fundraising campaign for cystic fibrosis organized by the Student Federation (SFUO) and the faculties, takes place on September 6, 2011. The campaign has become a real back-to-school tradition for more than 60 postsecondary institutions across the country.

Even though the campaign has been in full swing since June, the biggest efforts will be deployed on September 6: on that day, roughly 1,500 students will take to the streets of the Byward Market and the campus starting at 6 a.m. and will use novel approaches like selling candy and shine shoes to attract the attention of passersby and to collect funds for the cause.

Participants will then gather in front of the 90 University Street Residence for a barbecue that will be attended by uOttawa president Allan Rock, City of Ottawa mayor Jim Watson and Allie McFarlene, a 16-year-old teenager battling cystic fibrosis. Allie will talk about her everyday life and the importance of fundraising in the battle against CF. In the afternoon, another cohort of motivated students will invade the streets to gather more funds.

“Our 2011 campaign objective is $100,000,” says Sameena Topan, philantropy coordinator at SFUO.  “We have an amazing and energetic team this year, and we’re really excited to Shine brighter than ever!”

The Shinerama campaign has been around since the 1960s, supporting people affected by cystic fibrosis, a terrible genetic and ultimately fatal disease that attacks the respiratory tracts of children and young adults. Early campaigns would see students shine people’s shoes on the spot in exchange for a donation, hence the name Shinerama. Today, all kind of activities are held at colleges and universities, making Shinerama one of the biggest student fundraising campaigns in Canada.

For more information on Shinerama, please visit uo101 and Cystic Fibroses Canada [external site], or check out your faculty’s website. Activities are scheduled all through u101 Week.

Text: Nadia Gervais
Photo: Robert Lacombe
Published: September 2011