Dozens of Azilda residents jumped at the chance to help two local fundraising causes on the weekend. And they got cold and wet by helping out. Several members of the City of Greater Sudbury City Council were more than pleased to help out.
Organizer Lindsay Laur said the event was a polar plunge where participants got to jump into a swimming pool of freezing water and floating ice cubes. The event was organized by the Azilda Community Action Network.
Laur said Sunday's big splash at the Azilda waterfront park by Whitewater Lake was about helping two distinct organizations.
"We have the Rayside Balfour Youth Centre in Chelmsford. They are in desperate need of funding right now and we are trying our best to keep it open for the kids. And then we are also fundraising for Gauthier Park in Azilda on the other side of the tracks and it is the only park that particular area of Azilda has access to," said Laur.
"It is extremely run down and bare, so we are hoping for something new in there sooner rather than later," she added.
She said the polar plunge idea was to challenge adventurous individuals to come out in bathing suits or whatever costume they like, submit a minimum dollar value in pledges, and then jump into the pool, strictly for bragging rights. She said judging by the turnout of swimmers and spectators, the event was a success.
Laur said this was the first local fundraiser of its kind for the Azilda Community Action Network but she is hoping it could become an annual thing.
