By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Polar Plunge participants brave freezing temperatures in and out of the water – for Special Olympics

Feb 2, 2019 | 4:02 PM

LETHBRIDGE –  It was so chilly Saturday morning in Lethbridge, that the steam rising from a frozen over Henderson Lake almost—just almost— made the water look more inviting than standing on the shore as a spectator.

Of course, that wasn’t really the case, but more than 70 people, including B-93’s Chad Benson, members of the Taber and Lethbridge Police Service, Sheriffs, Firefighters, Correctional Service, Special Olympics volunteers and other people braved the -16 degree temperatures (and -26 degree windchill) to raise money for Special Olympics Alberta at the 2019 Polar Plunge, presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

Sheriff Matt Burton, who has been taking “The Plunge” for five years, explained what was in store for everyone courageous enough to jump into the frigid water.

“We have the people walk out, they’ll get ready to plunge in, jump in. The firefighters will help them out of the water and they’ll jump into the hot tub where it’s nice and warm.”

The goal was to raise between $30,000 and $35,000- and with additional walk-in registrants, Burton thought they’d reach that goal.

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“Province-wide we’re looking to raise $250,000 plus, and we’re well on our way there.”

He said the Law Enforcement Torch Run is the main fundraiser for Special Olympics. The Alberta Special Olympics Winter Games will take place in Calgary Feb. 8 to the 10. Lethbridge will be sending 17 athletes, the most ever –  including for the first time, a figure skater. 

The Torch Run and associated events have raised raised more than $733 million dollars worldwide by 85,000 officers, according to Burton.

“So, it’s a huge grassroots fundraising movement for Special Olympics.

“We don’t just pull people over and give them speeding tickets. We don’t just deal with them at their worst times. We deal with them at their best times. And for us, our reward for this today, is seeing the look on the athlete’s faces when we take that plunge knowing that the money that we’re raising is for them.”