OVER THE EDGE

September 26 - October 10, 2007

7

Happenings of Shinerama

Haakon SULLIVAN

ADVERTISING/ DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

When I walked into the Canfor Theatre at 8:30 on [ Saturday morning, I was expecting a small group of people looking like they | were being forced to be shining shoes for their re- spective clubs. However, it was quite the contrary. I was greeted by a lecture | room full of people look- ing enthusiastic about the day ahead while eating the breakfast goods put before them.

The meeting started with a couple videos. One showed what Shinerama does for people who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis. As a matter of fact, since the early sixties when Shiner- ama and other fundraising organizations started, the life expectancy of those af- flicted with the illness has increased from one year old to around thirty seven years. The other video was one which described what Cystic Fibrosis was. It’s a genetic illness that effects the respiratory and digestive tract by making the mucus in them deadly.

After that, we got a pep talk from some of

the NUGSS board members and the regional director of the Cystic Fibrosis society. We

Shinerama groups pose for the yearly NUGSS photo

were told that last year, UNBC made over fourteen thousand dollars for research. That was not only a UNBC record, but also the hi- ghest amount raised for Shinerama groups in BC.

We then had our picture taken as a group and then we set out to each of our locations. Out in the field, I learned that people were going

to Shinerama for many reasons, ranging from knowing someone who has Cystic Fibrosis to

making money for their club. To raise money, the activities involved shining shoes for do- nations, washing cars, and collecting bottles. This was done in high spirits, but there were some times when the goal of getting the high- est amount of money collected seemed to get the best of people. For example, collecting money on a few groups’ areas was frowned

upon by those groups even though the money all goes towards the same cause. There was also a feeling of accom- *"\ plishment when people cheered every time a batch of bottles was turned in or a piece of news received.

At the end of the day there was a dinner that would not only give us a meal to remember but also the an- nouncements of who won some specific awards and how much money was taised. We also had some speakers who have Cystic || Fibrosis deeply imbedded into their lives talk about how difficult it is to cope _| with a disease that can kill at | a misstep. The results of the | fundraising were then given. | The total amount raised was over fifteen thousand dol- lars making a new record for UNBC. The group that | raised the highest amount of money at over one thousand dollars was the hockey club, who were more than happy to show their enthusiasm at getting the reward. Lastly, the group that had the most creative shine was the Anthropology club. They «shined» a heli- copter as it was flying over UNBC. All in all, Shinerama has created many memories and has helped me gain some new friends. Hope- fully next year we’ll beat this year’s record and get more people aware of Cystic Fibrosis in the process.

Shinerama-Bombama-Banana-Rama-Obama

$15200 Record-Setting Year

Copy Wittetrr

Epiror in Cuier What does Barak Obama have to do with Shinerama? Not

much, but if NUGSS was up to penning some rhymes for ee

the next socially aware Kanye West album, they could plug the Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser by rhyming it with everyone’s } favourite US presidential candidate. However, judging by NUGSS VP External, Cameron M. Ehl’s, rolling of the eyes when I suggested the idea to him, NUGSS isn’t game. I think they would have raised more money if they did, but with a record-setting $15200 raised this year, they did something right.

I sat down with Mr. Ehl for another Willett One on One ex- ' clusive interview to get the skinny on how, as Chairman of the Shinerama campaign, he pulled it off. Once again Cam opted for the housecoat interview over coffee at 7:30am. Gracefully covering up his overexposed leg, Cam began our interview by making it clear that as Shinerama Chairman he couldn’t have

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made the event a success without the tremendous support of ~

UNBC students and the local community. When asked how

of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was there to give a pep talk that motivated volunteers to raise as much money as they could to fight this truly deadly disease. Students boarded

years’ efforts, Cam regaled me with a story about how 2. Willett.

Social, James De Vuyst, scared the wits out of him at

Shinerama kickoff breakfast. Apparently Cam had set the fad. raising target for only $13000 at the Shinerama Conference he attended in London (Ontario... although he won’t admit it) this summer. He’d secretly desired to not only beat last year’s total of $12000, but to actually match the UNBC record of $14000, set two years ago. When James was supposed to announce this ambitious target to Shinerama student volunteers, he flubbed his line and proclaimed the goal to be $15000. Cam said he almost swooned at the added pressure. Luckily, Karen Kellett

city buses that were graciously provided by UNBC Alumnus Aiden Kelly, who now works in the public transit department at the City of Prince George. The buses whisked volunteers off to car washes, shoe shine stations, bottle rich neighbourhoods and other places where donations could be solicited.

It was the moment of truth for Cam; after weeks of planning, students dispersed into the community to uphold the honour of NUGSS and UNBC. Cam said that at lunch when NUGSS board members went to serve sandwiches to volunteers and

James De Vuvst, NUGSS VP socian this year’s fundraising drive stacked up against previous WYGSs VP External speaks with OTE’s head honcho, Cody

pick up their loot, he exhaled a sigh of relief when $6000 had been raised in the morning alone. By the end of the day, dona- tions totalling a record $15200 had poured in from the efforts of over 60 clubs representing nearly 300 selfless student vol- unteers. Over $1700 was raised from the bottle drive alone while the top three clubs participating in Shinerama, the Ismaili Club, Commerce Students Society and Greywolves Hockey had raised $1500 each. Shinerama Co-Chair Jes- sica Schmit also exhibited her high calibre soliciting talent in collecting a record $2000 in corporate donations.

Thus it was that 200 well deserving students received dinner on NUGSS at the Caribou Steakhouse and Grill that evening. It was only following the crowd-moving presen- ; tations of Karen Kellett and Jacqueline Anderson, whose : siblings grew up suffering the devastating effects of Cystic Fibrosis, that Cam spilled the top secret fundraising total to a shocked crowd of heroes. Cam, now speaking with a tone of distinct pride in his student body, described the moment as “one of the most rewarding experiences [he’d] ever had, seeing that grateful look on Jacqueline’s face when [he’d] overcome [his] elation to announce the total.” Indeed, UNBC students have much to swell their chests about as universities ten times the size of UNBC (like UBC and U of C) only managed to raise $20000 or so in 2006, according to Cam. “This higher ratio of solicited donations speaks vol- umes about the charitable and caring nature of not only UNBC students, but the wider community as well” Cam said. With a new UNBC record set, I had to ask what noble endeavour was next on the NUGSS agenda. Cam gave me a sly look and shrugged. Apparently, fresh off this year’s Shinerama success, Cam needed some time to put together his next triumph. As he sauntered off to his room upstairs, I realized that I should at least give the man a chance to get dressed for the day.