Want to support a great cause that does not involve a bucket of ice water being dumped on your head? Search no more! This Wednesday Shine Day, an event put on by UNBSJ’s very own Shinerama organizers, will be in full swing starting at 11 a.m. in Market Square.
Shinerama is a “national fundraiser that is done at more than sixty universities across Canada,” says Shinerama organizer Jessica Harrison-Brown. On Shine Day, first year students looking to get involved will be bussed uptown from the university, while upper year students can still participate as Shine Leaders.
Shine Day is a wonderful opportunity for new students to get to know the city and, best of all, the funds raised are donated to cystic fibrosis research.
Last year, UNBSJ raised approximately $5000 on Shine Day for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. This year, Shinerama organizers are hoping to raise $7000 on Shine Day alone. Organizers are also optimistic that the rest of the school year will yield donations towards cystic fibrosis research.
“A big thing this year is raising awareness because a lot of people don’t know what Shinerama is, they just know we send out a lot of students and raise money,” Harrison-Brown says about Shinerama’s goals this year.
This year marks the 50th anniversary for Shinerama as a fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis, and UNBSJ has been involved for 48 of those years. While Harrison-Brown asserted that there would be more celebrations in two years’ time when UNBSJ’s campaign turns fifty, they are not ignoring Shinerama’s 50th birthday nationally. We can look forward to seeing several Shinerama alumni returning, as well as returning to fundraiser’s roots of shoe shining. “When it first started, it was all about shoe-shining,” Harrison-Brown added, and the list of events has since grown.
This year’s Shine Day will include a variety of attractions, such as a barbeque, face painting, and whatever students come up with. Harrison-Brown told of one year when students gave out hugs for donations. UNBSJ’s Shinerama Organizers are also looking to bring back the shoe-shining booth.
For those that are musically inclined, past events have featured students bringing musical instruments with them to sing and play live music on the side of the street for donations.
If the allure of supporting a good cause is not enough, students can also look forward to a competition this year. The competition will involve a photo scavenger hunt to help first year students learn about the city. There is also a prize and, while Harrison-Brown was unable to release what the prize will be, it is said to be worthwhile.
Shine Day only happens once a year, however, Shinerama has secondary fundraisers throughout the academic year that are promoted through social media and posters that can be found around the school. Be sure to keep an eye out for updates.
To donate and to learn more about Shinerama, visit www.shinesj.ca or www.cysticfibrosis.ca/get-involved/events/shinerama/
