20 shiners shine up $6,000
U of M students contribute to the fight on cystic fibrosis
JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF
PHOTO: JENELLE PETRINCHUK
Although all of the money has not been completely tallied, it looks like this year’s Shinerama fundraising event raised almost $18,000 in funds for to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. However, it is known that the top 20 shiners raised $6,000 on “shine-day,” Sept. 14, alone.
Shinerama is a fundraising program that annually raises money in support of cystic fibrosis research and care. It is one of the largest university fundraisers in Canada, this year involving approximately 60 universities and colleges across the country.
The tent set up in the quad on University of Manitoba campus had over 350 volunteers helping to make the day one of the biggest successes so far.
At 9:30 in the morning, special events co-ordinator Jane Keller was full of energy and ready for “the big day.”
“We’ve been here sine 5:30 in the morning. A lot of us woke up at 4. It makes for a long day, but an exciting day,” she said.
The even has been organized since May and an initial goal of $16,000 was set for this year — $8,000 is the amount they were hoping to raise on Sept. 14. Before shine-day arrived about $10,000 had already been raised. Most shiners were confident they would surpass their goal this year.
Initially Shinerama raised money by shining shoes, washing cars and co-ordinating raffles — events that still take place on current shine-days — but now events have expanded to such things as playing guitar on the corner for spare change, to dancing or singing for money, to just asking people for their help.
The top “shiners” this year will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to Florida, donated by Breakaway Tours, one of Shinerama’s national sponsors.
Shinerama has never offered a prize this large to volunteers before, but Keller said it was great motivation. “We’ve had a few different couples that come up and are like, ‘we’re totally going to win that.’”
At the end of the day, there was a volunteer appreciation barbecue, which is also new to the event this year.
“I keep thinking I’m going to start breaking down and crying any moment, seeing the volunteers come and bring money. I’m just ecstatic,” added an emotional Keller.
Last year more than 35,000 students from more than 52 campuses across the country helped in the fundraiser. Since Shinerama began in 1964 it has raised more than $16.5 million.
