Medical students during Shinerama 2013
On Sept. 6, University of Alberta medical students will take to the streets of Edmonton to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada (CFC) during the 50th annual Shinerama fundraiser.
Every September, students from more than 60 post-secondary institutions across Canada fundraise in their communities in support of cystic fibrosis research. Since its humble beginnings in the 1960s, Shinerama has raised roughly $25 million to fight the debilitating disease.
In honour of the 50th anniversary, Olivia Lee and Nikytha Antony, second-year medical students, this year's UAlberta Shinerama co-ordinators, are pushing to raise $15,000-a $2,000 jump from last year's total. CFC aims to raise more than $1.3 million nationwide.
Although the "shiners" won't likely sport the trademark white coats, Alberta's future physicians can be easily spotted by their black t-shirt adorned with a lung graphic and the Shinerama logo. Antony and Lee say students can be found in high-traffic areas, such as transit centres, malls and Whyte Ave, but what they'll be doing to raise money has yet to be revealed.
"We encourage the students to bring an instrument or use a special talent," Lee says. "It's up to them to be creative and so something that they think will draw attention and bring in donations."
"I did Shinerama last year," Antony adds. "We sang songs outside of Planet Organic. It was fun and for a really great cause."
Although the event is organized by the medical students, Antony and Lee assert that anyone is welcome to participate. The easiest way to get involved is to donate to the "shiners" who will be spread across the city or donate online, but those who are more ambitious are welcome to register online and participate in the fun.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease among Canadian children and youth, affecting mainly their respiratory and digestive systems. Each week, two Canadian children are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and one person dies from the ailment. There is no known cure.