WHAT IS SHINERAMA?
Shinerama is Canada's largest post-secondary fundraiser involving students at almost 60 university and college campuses across Canada. While Shinerama began in 1964 as a shoe-shining campaign during Orientation week, it has since grown to include a wide variety of shining and non-shining activities under the Shinerama banner. The proceeds of this fundraiser go towards Cystic Fibrosis Canada, in hopes to find a cure or a way to control cystic fibrosis. The University of Alberta has been involved in Shinerama since 1985. Our goal this year is to raise $18,000 with your help and support!
WHAT IS CYSTIC FIBROSIS?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. Cystic Fibrosis affects mainly the lungs and the digestive system. In the lungs, Cystic Fibrosis causes severe breathing problems. A build-up of thick mucus makes it difficult to clear bacteria and leads to cycles of infection and inflammation, which damage the delicate lung tissues.
In the digestive tract, Cystic Fibrosis makes it extremely difficult to digest and absorb adequate nutrients from food. Thick mucus also blocks the ducts of the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to digest food. Therefore, persons with Cystic Fibrosis must consume a large number of artificial enzymes (on average 20 pills a day) with every meal and snack, to help them absorb adequate nutrition from their food. They must also follow a demanding daily routine of physical therapy to keep the lungs free of congestion and infection.
For further information, please review this
detailed fact sheet about Cystic Fibrosis.