New Student Shinerama Campaign Outstanding Success

The UPEI Student Union Shinerama campaign to support the fight against cystic fibrosis has exceeded all expectations. After raising $17,000 last year, students set an ambitious objective of $20,000 for 2007. The 200+ students who donated their time and energy to fundraising activities as part of New Student Orientation week have raised almost $27,000. There are more activities being planned until December, when the campaign ends. Their ultimate goal is an unprecedented $30,000.

Shinerama is Canada’s largest post-secondary fundraiser, involving students at approximately 60 university and college campuses across the country. It began in 1964 as a shoe-shining campaign and has since grown to include a wide variety of shining and non-shining activities under the Shinerama banner. UPEI students have been taking part since 1977.

Says Will MacDonald, a third-year engineering student and this year’s Shinerama organizer at UPEI, “It has been incredibly inspiring to see the enthusiastic response of our new students and the generosity of Islanders who supported them. At UPEI we are a complete model for what Shinerama is. The amount we have raised is exceptional and we are well above the national average.”

Shinerama students are now selling necklaces to raise additional funds and they have more activities in the plans, including a campus coffee delivery service in the fall.