Unsuspecting shoppers, drivers and pedestrians were faced with singers, dancers and eager car-washers this weekend as a post-secondary tradition continued in Prince George this weekend.
The annual Shinerama campaign took place Sept. 17, bringing about 400 University of Northern British Columbia students out to raise money for cystic fibrosis.
Shinerama is the single-largest charity event among Canadian colleges and universities. Last year, more than 65 schools collectively raised more than $989,000 to fight the most common fatal, genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults.
Organized by UNBC's Northern Undergraduate Student Society, students from a variety of school clubs spread out across the city with the goal of bringing in $22,222.22.
At Husky gas station on Range Road, a group of about 15 raised more than $600 washing cars, and busking outside of the neighbouring Costco.
"People were super generous," said drama club member Attila Varszegi, explaining the group also drew donations through some amateur juggling and dancing along the highway.
"Someone gave us $40 for [washing] his two-day old clean truck," said Sue Lee.
Though they fell short of their total, bringing in roughly $13,000, campaign co-coordinator Mark Nasu was still happy with the turnout.
"It went well. It was the most volunteers we've ever had," Nasu said. While many schools run the event as part of the first-year orientation, NUGSS does the campaign as part of their own orientation, drawing students from groups such as the a capella, dance, focus and music clubs to participate.
As part of the event, students heard from young Keegan Girard and his mother Lesley about what it was like to live with the disease.
Making that connection is important to the success of the event, said Nasu.
"If they're not directly affected, cystic fibrosis become just one more of the diseases on the list," he said. The fact it is the most common genetic disease for young people also makes it easier for universities to become invested in eradicating it, Nasu added.
When Shinerama began back in 1964, as a shoe-shine event, most children with cystic fibrosis did not live long enough to attend kindergarten. Today, more than half of all Canadians with the disease could live up to age 37.
