Cutting the ribbon to launch the Shuffle are Board of Governors member Hazel Mah, Rector and Mrs. Lowy, and Mix 96 radio personalities Ted Bird and Terry Di Monte. Thirty-five undergraduate students will receive scholarships or bursaries on October 15, thanks to last year's walkathon between the two campuses.

PHOTOS: M.-C. PÉLOQUIN & CHRISTIAN FLEURY

by Alison McArthur

The grey clouds and drizzling rain didn't dampen spirits at Concordia's Eighth Annual Shuffle on September 26. Instead, 407 Shufflers walked, ran and roller-bladed from the downtown campus to Loyola Campus, laughing and joking all the way.

Motorists and passersby stopped to gawk at the unlikely parade.

The most animated bunch were about 20 men from Loyola Physical Resources. They wore gold and maroon felt "Dr. Seuss" hats, made their boss, Vice-Rector Services Charles Emond, carry a ladder adorned with tools of the trade, and blew on horns and kazoos.

"It adds a real spirit to the event," said Shuffle organizer Chris Mota, who had about 20 volunteers help in the smooth organization of the event. "Every year, one group shines. They certainly took the cake this year."

Manuel Da Silva jingled with every step because of the cowbells tied to his ankles. His Shuffling efforts paid off for him because he won the grand prize of return airfare for two to anywhere in the continental U.S.

Most of the participants were staff members, but there were also many faculty, some students, and a number of Board members and alumni/ae. So far, the event has raised $73,869 in pledges for student scholarships, and Mota said more money may still come in. Although it is not as much as last year's record of $78,000, she said she is still very pleased.

"There were a lot of people who would have turned out, but stayed away because of the threat of rain," she said. "What is important now is for people to honour their pledges." She said tax receipts will be issued early in 1998.

Dick McDonald, a retired Applied Social Science professor, celebrated his 81st birthday by walking in the Shuffle. His goal was to get 81 pledges. In the end, he had 94 pledges, totalling $1,033.

"You meet old friends that you haven't seen for quite a few years," he said, and then quickly amended that. "They aren't old. You just haven't seen them in a long time."

Board of Governor members Hazel Mah, Humberto Santos, Lillian Vineberg, Alain Benedetti, Richard Renaud, and Jonathan Wener collectively raised about $44,000 in Shuffle pledges. Renaud, a celebrated Montreal fundraiser, raised $15,500 of that in a single week.

Having completed the 6.5-km walk, Shufflers were greeted at Loyola by cold drinks, paper-bag lunches, live music by The Life of Riley, and lots of prizes. John Moore of Mix 96, a former School of Community and Public Affairs student, announced the prize winners. Then it was on to the Rector's Reception in Hingston Hall.

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, these people won donated articles and treats:

Return airfare for two to any Delta destination in the continental U.S., donated by Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Delta Air Lines: Manuel Da Silva

Return airfare to Florida, donated by Norko Travel: Barbara Barclay

Apple eMate 300 computer, donated by Concordia Computer Store: Ron Rehel

Weider treadmill, donated by ICON of Canada: Steven Winikoff

Home gym, donated by ICON of Canada: Wendy Hedrich

20-inch colour TV, donated by Toshiba: Helen Adornato

One-year Internet access subscription, donated by TotalNet: Shoshana Kaefa, Daniel Szpiro, Diane Adkins, Marie Berryman and Marie-Christine Laperriere

Weekend for two at Le Centre Sheraton with Vogue Limousine service: France Viger

Private loge for a performance of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, donated by Place des Arts: Hilary Scuffell

Karaoke machine, donated by Central Audio Video: Chunyan Wang

Fax machine, donated by CUPFA (Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association): Lorraine Crossley

Weekend for two at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel: Nina McEwen-Dunn

Audiovox 401 cellular phone, donated by Eric Goldner: Mary Genova

Weekend for two at the Château Royal Hotel and Suites: Colin Abbott

Weekend for two at Le Château Versailles: Huguette Albert

Bauer in-line skates: Francine Kolodychuk, Francie Beresford and Nancy Sardella

Reebok running shoes: Helmut Regel

Weekend car rental, donated by Budget: Sheila Ettinger

Gold watch, donated by IBM: Perry Calce

Montreal Canadiens hockey tickets, donated by Livingston Pharmaceutical: Sharon Rose

Tickets to a Montreal Expos game, donated by Réseau Admission: Frank Chalk, Susan Brown

$50 gift certificates to Le Piment Rouge: Mary Silas, Ann M. Bennett, Maria-Teresa Zenteno, Chris Cummins

Season passes to Stingers games: Cynthia George, Levonnie Branch

One-hour massage at Concordia Sports Medicine and Multi-Therapy: Valerie Berry, Kathy Usas, Donna Varrica, Christina Vroom

$50 gift certificate to Gordon's Cave à Vin: Diana Caponi

$25 gift certificates for Sherlock's: Irene Fernandez, Nancy Lulic, Mylene Grant, Patricia Chau

Weider exercise mats, donated by ICON of Canada: Angela Ghadban, Pauline Khoderian, Kathryn MacKenzie, Melissa Bahula, Bipin Desai, Jocelyne Côté, Kathy Carey, Laurenza Cacciatore

Stingers sweatshirt: Jill Abcarius

Quartz desk clock, donated by Tenex Data: Christine Sidhom

Golf shirt, donated by Tenex Data: Pat Burnside

Blank VHS cassettes, donated by Audio Visual: Sharon McLean, Vince Callender, Kalan Gardiner, Jang Kwon, Stephanie Basire

Stingers T-shirt: Cathy Daigle

Manicure, donated by Centre de Beauté Santé Lyne Giroux: Fred Sauer

Movie passes from Cineplex Odeon/Faubourg Ste. Catherine: Helen Medeiros, Fabiola Cacciatore

Stingers cap: Palmer Acheson

Fund-raisers extraordinaire

Among faculty and staff members, the following people raised the largest amount in pledges for Shuffle '97:

Ron Proulx, Director, Facilities Planning and Development: $1,800

Dick McDonald (retired), Professor Emeritus, Applied Social Science: $1,033

Amely Jurgenliemk, Secretary of Senate: $600

Dina Tavares, Secretary/Receptionist, Health Services: $597

Darcy Sowden, Buyer, Bookstore: $550