Polar Plunge Raises $10,000+

Mark Montagano | Feb 20, 2014

The water was warm. It was a balmy day on the lake. Great costumes, back flips - it was all there for this year's Central Frontenac Heritage Festival Polar Bear Plunge. There was an Olympic theme going on with several of the Plungers, including Anne and Hilary Howes, dressed in Olympic costumes. Anne, by the way, was a torchbearer in the 1988 Calgary Olympics. The event was emceed by our dynamic Town Crier, Paddy O'Connor, with assistance from Mayor Janet Gutowski. It was a great group of Plungers and a very enthusiastic audience and generous supporters.

Art Holloway raised $1,320; Mark Montagano raised $1,290. They thought they were battling it out for the most funds raised and then Jeremy Neven came roaring up the middle with $1,926. Several other notable fund raisers were Connie McLellan of RBC with $640, Richard and Vickie Struthers at $530, Heather and Kevin Rioux at $490 and Janine Falk at $405. All in all, $10,137 was raised for three worthy organizations: The Child Centre (unfunded programs), GREC School Council and the Alzheimer Society. In the last four years the plunge has raised over $32,000 for various causes.

Karen McGregor of St. Lawrence College, a long-time supporter of the plunge and the Heritage Festival, supplied the trophies, sound system and the services of Jesse Mills, our videographer who is on a work assignment with the township. The trophy for the most funds raised went to Jeremy Neven; the youngest plunger was Samantha Kempe and the best costume went to Shane Steeves, who dressed as a coureur du bois and put on another very athletic and creative performance. The indomitable Karen Burke was our most senior plunger and also managed to raise $460.

Richard, Gill and Dawn had the marina ready for the event. The EMS team, led by Chief Bill Young, was on the grounds and in the water to keep us safe. Cox Bus Lines provided a bus to keep the Plungers warm while they were waiting to plunge. Jesse Mills, our videographer, is putting together a video of the event and it will be available in the next few days.

You have thought about it, talked about it and 2015 will be the year to join us in the tropical waters of Sharbot Lake for the 2015 Plunge. See you there.