The ThunderBlogs

On a recent drizzly September Saturday, a group of teens clustered in front of the brick-coloured Net Loft on Anderson Street. They loudly talked among each other while milling about excitedly despite a lack of coherent direction. Each of them wore matching white t-shirts with a stylized “Shinerama” graphic on the front and a mosaic of blue corporate logos on the back.

The socialization soon ended and they set about their task: asking passersby for donations to fight cystic fibrosis in exchange for a shoeshine, a Shinerama sticker, and a free hug.

“Like pepper on eggs guys,” a blonde girl in jeans and flip-flops said to the others.

Two girls moved off and planted themselves outside the Public Market for a few second before breaking into an a capella version of Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow.”

A young volunteer and his guitar claimed one of the wooden benches ringing the open area at the corner of Anderson and Johnston. His acoustic song seamlessly fit in against the background of bagpipes, electric guitars, and pan-flutes supplied by the Island’s buskers.

Another group thrust its collection of  homemade signs at passing cars while a young man’s combination of a head-to-toe orange spandex jumpsuit and a frantic mix of jumping and waving attracted attention.

I’m approached by Beth who tells me she heard about the event on Facebook and encouraged a few of her fellow dorm residents to attend as well. The corners of her lips draw in and her eyes gaze down as she recounts how she lost a sister to CF and had another friend currently fighting the disease.

“It’s a way I can give back to them,” she said before renewing her smile with an embrace of a passing Italian tourist.

One of Beth’s friends, Grace, takes over and recited the event’s highlights: Mayor Gregor Robertson officially declared today Shinerama Day, 17 other universities were participating across Canada, and Shinerama had volunteers spread out across the city throughout the day.

Most hesitated when approached by Beth and Grace’s gang: understandable as most were wearing sneakers or canvas shoes. But the combination of enthusiasm, a hug, and a good cause won most over to drop some change in the box.

Shinerama is held annually across Canada in support of the fight against cystic fibrosis.