UPEI Shiners lead country, hope for even bigger fundraising success on Tuesday

Even before new student orientation (NSO) officially gets underway, UPEI students, the "UPEI Shiners," are leading the way in online donations for Shinerama, the long-standing university and college fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Shinerama is the largest post-secondary fundraiser in Canada-with 60 university and college campuses that participate- raising more than $21.5 million to date for cystic fibrosis research. The 47-year-old event started out with students shining shoes on a given day, but has expanded to include raffles, car washes and other events that students hold to raise funds. Shinerama has a long history at UPEI and while organized by the UPEI Student Union, it is incorporated into NSO events each year. The actual ‘Shine Day', when students en masse seek donations throughout the Charlottetown area, will take place on Tuesday, September 2, with organizers hoping for best ever results.

NSO Coordinator Anastasia Smallwood said, 'With almost $6500 already raised online, the UPEI Shiners team is ahead of other teams by almost $3500, and in a solid position to exceed its overall goal. We hope that Islanders will once again donate to this worthy cause to help UPEI be the top fundraising team in the country.'

Smallwood added that training and information sessions will be held in advance of Tuesday's event to ensure new students approach motorists and residents in a safe manner when asking for donations.

An incoming UPEI student, Kaitlyn Parks, is leading the country with individual online donations of $2247 while the national staff coordinator for Shinerama is Ryan McDermott, a UPEI graduate.

For a complete list of NSO events, visit the NSO website.