The Spread the Net campaign is in full-swing as Algonquin looks to land its fourth-consecutive win in the national competition.
On Nov. 18, the college held its first-ever Bike-a-Thon to raise funds for Plan Canada and Rick Mercer’s Spread the Net Student Challenge.
An extension of last year’s Walk-a-Thon which raised just over $2,000, the event took place in the Commons where teams of 2-6 participants cycled on an elliptical bike for one hour. They compared mileage from each group to determine the winner, but in the end, each team member was awarded an Ottawa Senators ticket for their participation.
The two teams that partook in the event were made up of students in level one of the public relations course at the college. They fundraised upwards of $300, all within their program.
“We have a strategy,” said first-year public relations student, Shannon Murphy. “Everyone here has their role.”
This year’s Spread the Net committee for Algonquin is made up entirely of students. In the past, the police foundations program has headed-up the fundraising campaign, but decided this year to open it up to any students interested.
“For the first time in four years it’s actually (run) campus-wide,” said second-year police foundations student and co-ordinator, Joe Dingemans.
“We’re out here promoting Spread the Net and the big thing is it’s always all about Rick. But this year we’re trying to spread more information on malaria,” said Dingemans.
The winners of the Spread the Net Student Challenge will be announced on The Rick Mercer Report Feb. 22. Mercer will pay a visit to the top four fundraising schools and feature each of them on his show.