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This year marks 60 years since Shinerama started as a shoe-shining fundraiser to encourage first-year students to meet new people and give back to their local community during orientation week. It has since grown to include a wide variety of community and campus-based events under the Shinerama banner.
Raising over $29 million in its 60-year history, this year we are adding over $70,000 and counting to support life-changing cystic fibrosis (CF) research, improve patient care and support advocacy efforts.
This Shinetember (contraction between Shinerama and September), Cystic Fibrosis Canada collaborated directly with student leaders at 21 schools across Canada to help facilitate and manage local Shinerama fundraising events. Longstanding schools like Wilfrid Laurier University (60 years), Memorial University of Newfoundland (51 years), Mount Allison University (38 years), Toronto Metropolitan University (34 years) and University of Manitoba (39 years) returned to shine brightly through their fundraising efforts with all of the school campaigns.
As we embarked on a momentous year, we announced an ambitious fundraising goal of $160,000 as part of our 60th-anniversary celebrations. This initiative aims to support emotional health and well-being through the development of an interactive online mental health hub for people living with CF and caregivers. This hub will contain information on mental health supports, mental health educational resources and information on CF related peer support.
The need for mental health resources has never been more critical. This mission resonates closely with students, as many students face various challenges, from academic pressures to personal struggles, and understand the importance of having mental health resources available for them.
We recognize that achieving this ambitious goal will require dedication and teamwork, which is why we have spread our efforts over two years. This extended timeline allows us to engage with the Shinerama community more effectively and build momentum towards our target.
Jeremie Saunders, podcaster and dedicated CF advocate, delivered an inspiring message to student leaders and fundraisers across Canada, emphasizing the importance of the fundraising goal that was set this year. In his address, Saunders conveyed a powerful reminder, “These mental health hubs will provide crucial mental health support, educational resources and peer support specifically for people, like myself, living with CF, and of course, their caregivers.” He continues by sharing that, “Your support means everything. By fundraising this year, you are not just helping, you’re helping to reach that goal. You are helping make a serious impact on the lives of people like me who rely on these resources every single day.”
You can help support the Shinerama campaign by sharing the mission and importance of this initiative with your friends, neighbours and anyone you know who is entering their university journey. Engaging in conversations about what Shinerama is and its goal to raise awareness and funds for CF research can inspire others to get involved. We’re always looking to expand our roster of participating schools, and your outreach can make a significant impact in bringing more students into this vibrant community dedicated to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Thank you to the Shinerama leadership team, volunteers, students and sponsors for supporting the 2024 Shinerama campaign and its remarkable 60th anniversary. Together, we can continue that legacy to raise awareness and foster a network of passionate advocates committed to this important cause.
National Shinerama Team
