Posted on Sept. 5: Shiny happy people

On Saturday, Sept. 6, McMaster students will be wrapping up their Welcome Week activities by giving the residents of Hamilton a reason to shine. They'll be at street corners and shopping malls armed with polish, cloths, and donation boxes to make everyday articles shimmer and raise money for a good cause.

Third-year biochemistry student and fundraising initiative team (FIT) co-ordinator Binny Jandu, says McMaster has a long, proud tradition in Shinerama, the largest post-secondary fundraising event that has raised more than $14 million for Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a fatal genetic disorder that leaves its sufferers highly susceptible to lung and digestive tract problems.

“This is a great opportunity for university students because it is one of the only Welcome Week events that is directed specifically at the community,” says Jandu. “They still get to make new friends and have a lot of fun, but they're helping a really good cause too.”

Last year, McMaster students raised more than $13,000 for Cystic Fibrosis, and this year the goal is set even higher, at $20,000. To better meet the goal and raise as many donations as possible, Jandu and the FIT team have arranged additional campus activities and fundraisers throughout the month of September. They've been selling bottled water throughout Welcome Week from the McMaster Student Union's golf cart, and in addition to Saturday's shining events a number of off-campus students will be hosting car washes throughout the city.

To kick off Saturday's events, McMaster engineering students are participating in a “bus pull” down Main Street today, and on Saturday evening students will compete in a “shine off,” cleaning the likes of fudge sauce and tempera paint off decorated cars that have been temporarily donated for the cause.

Even the campus bookstore, Titles, is getting involved. Customers making purchases during the month of September have the option of “rounding up” their purchase to the nearest dollar, with donations being shared between the Terry Fox Run and Shinerama.

“We expect the money raised at the bookstore will be pretty significant, because September is their busiest month of the year,” says Jandu. “Our sponsors have been very generous and students are so enthusiastic. With a larger first-year class thanks to the double cohort, we're expecting between 1,000 to 1,500 participants in this year's competition.”

Shinerama's newest national sponsor, TELUS Mobility is offering reduced rates to students and a contest that could outfit them with prize package that includes a scholarship and laptop computer. Subscribers can also participate in the “send a shine” campaign, which will see TELUS donating 20 cents of the 25-cent cost of sending a text message to Shinerama. To support McMaster subscribers can text “Shine23”.

When the fundraiser began in 1964, the average life expectancy for CF suffers was about four years of age. Today that number has increased significantly to 39. Shinerama is Canada's largest post-secondary fundraiser involving students at more than 45 university and college campuses across Canada.

For more information about Shinerama visit www.shinerama.ca. To learn more about McMaster's Shinerama events contact FIT Co-ordinator Binny Jandu at fit@msu.mcmaster.ca.