It was a balmy -17 C Saturday morning under sunny skies as more than 100 people gathered on Ramsey Lake for a uniquely Northern event.
The fourth annual Polar Plunge in Sudbury is part of a province-wide fundraiser for Special Olympics Ontario, with events being held this month and last to raise money for the cause.
Sudbury police Sgt. Joanne Pendrak, a member of the local organizing committee, told the crowd gathered at the large square hole cut from the lake that the plungers were willing to go to freezing lengths for a good cause.
"The main thing is it raises awareness and money for Special Olympians so they can do their sports," Pendrak said.
Jumpers were housed in heated tents beside the opening in the water, where they shed their winter clothes, donned their special outfits and ran down a specially laid carpet and made a splash into the water.
Then they were helped out by volunteers and whisked into two saunas set up for the event so they could quickly warm up. Prizes were drawn and everyone who jumped was entered into the draw and could win.
"This is all done by volunteers," Pendrak said, in thanking everyone who helped make the day possible. "But especially I would like everyone who's taking the plunge, because without them, we wouldn't have much of an event."
There were also prizes for costumes and form, so she urged jumpers to “do something special. You never know what you could win."
Plungers included Ontario Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault – decked out in swim trunks and a Toronto Blue Jays jersey – and some of his staff. Also jumping was Deputy Police Chief Al Lekun, who wore his uniform for the plunge.
"I was wondering about my decision to jump,” Lekun said. “I really wasn't concerned until I got here this morning. The only thing I saw in the parking lot was an ambulance."
Lekun, the first to go in, asked Pendrak for more time. "Maybe you can give us a countdown from 100?" he joked, drawing laughs from the crowd.
The event raises money by having participants solicit donations from friends, family members, co-workers, local business, etc. All of the money goes directly to benefit the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. Province wide, the event has raised $165,000 of its $350,000 goal, with many events still to report how much they raised, or set to take place later this month.
