Polar Plunge to raise funds for Special Olympics athletes

Lethbridge is one of five communities across Alberta hosting a plunge.

These other municipalities will also be hosting plunges:

· Edmonton: January 26 at Lake Summerside, 12:00 p.m.

· Calgary: February 22 at Arbour Lake, 11:00 a.m.

· Red Deer: February 29 at Bower-Kin Community Center, 11:00 a.m.

· Medicine Hat: March 14 at the Family Leisure Centre, 11:00 a.m.

Mathieu Champagne, a Constable with the Taber Police Service is the chair of the southwest Alberta Law Enforcement Torch Run.

He said people can take part in the event individually or can register with a team. He added that plunges like this take part across North America and across the world thanks to different branches of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

He explained the Law Enforcement Torch Run debuted in the 1980s to support Special Olympians. Since then, they’ve hosted numerous events throughout the year.

“The nice thing about the Law Enforcement Torch Run events for Special Olympics is that the money goes local. So, if you donate to whatever charity you choose, sometimes the money goes to a national centre and then they distribute the money from there,” he told Lethbridge News Now.

“How it works with any Law Enforcement Torch Run event is unless you select otherwise, your money will go to the local affiliate so this event in Lethbridge will estimate to raise about $40,000– which is what we usually raise for this one event, and that money goes to local athletes, so athletes that live in and around Lethbridge.”

Champagne said they hope to see 750 people take the plunge across the five events in Alberta and their financial goal is to raise $250,000. Last year, they raise over $180,000.

“We always want to reach a little bit higher than we have in years before.”

Champagne said this is their largest event, with television personality Rick Mercer taking the plunge in Calgary a few years ago.

He added that plungers tend to return year after year, because the event isn’t just a quick dip in the water and then it’s over.

The day will include a charity barbeque, live entertainment, emcees, and free hot chocolate and coffee.

RAISING FUNDS

Champagne said pledge and registration forms can be found online at specialolympics.ca.

Each year has a theme, and the theme for 2020 is ‘Superheroes’. Champagne said plungers can dress up and prizes will be awarded for the best costume. There are also prizes, thanks to sponsor donations, for the top fundraiser, top law enforcement fundraiser and top team fundraiser.

“It’s just a little something. We’re always out here trying to raise as much money as we can, but it’s just nice to be able to give back to the people that have come out and raised that money and collect funds from their coworkers, families and friends. It’s nice that when they put together a huge effort to do something spectacular, they get recognized for that, so we do that,” he explained.

He said there are added incentives for people who register for the event, like smartphone friendly Polar Plunge gloves.

“We also have something called a Too Chicken to Plunge shirt – if you don’t want to plunge but want to make a donation and want to get a little shirt, we have that available. We have registration tents with stuffed animals for kids and water bottles and travel mugs…come on down and check it out!”

Local law enforcement and firefighters will be on site at the Henderson Lake plunge on February 1.

by Justin Goulet

Polar Plunge to raise funds for Special Olympics athletes

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