Students across Canada kick off 45th year of Shinerama, Canada's largest post-secondary fundraiser

Toronto, Ontario – (September 9, 2009) – Beginning this week, first-year students at universities and colleges across Canada are shining shoes, flipping burgers and collecting pennies to help celebrate the 45th anniversary of Shinerama.

Shinerama is Canada's largest post-secondary school fundraiser, involving students from more than 65 universities and colleges. The campaign, which began in 1964, has raised almost $19.5 million to help fund cystic fibrosis research and treatment programs supported by the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

"This is an exciting time of year, and students from coast to coast really come together for a great cause," said Serena Hartl, National Shinerama Chair. "We're proud to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Shinerama campaign, and hope to have a record-breaking year!"

Student organizers hope to raise $1 million in support of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs and the digestive system, is the most common, fatal, genetic disease affecting young Canadians. When Shinerama began 45 years ago, most children with cystic fibrosis did not live long enough to attend kindergarten. Today, half of all Canadians with CF may expect to live well into their 30s, and beyond.

The CCFF is grateful to this year's participating schools and dedicated volunteers. Special thanks to the campaign's generous national sponsors: Best Buy, Breakaway Tours, Domino's Pizza, Mac's Convenience Stores Central Division, MuchMusic and studentawards.com.

For more information, or to make an on-line donation, visit www.shinerama.ca.

About the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a Canada-wide health charity, with 50 volunteer chapters, that funds cystic fibrosis research and care. In 2009, the Foundation is supporting more than 50 research projects, which are exploring all aspects of the CF puzzle; from investigating new methods of fighting infection and inflammation in the lungs, to finding new therapies that target the basic defect at a cellular level. For more information, visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Sagal Ali
Media Relations Officer
Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
1-800-378-2233 ext. 290
sali@cysticfibrosis.ca
www.cysticfibrosis.ca / www.shinerama.ca