Polar Plunge Raises $3200

Kelli McRobert | Feb 21, 2024

Dating back to as early as 1904 in South Boston, Massachusetts, plungers have been jumping into lakes, ponds, and rivers to celebrate New Year. Canada soon followed in 1920 in British Columbia where a record was broken in 2000 with 2,128 jumpers taking the plunge.

Since then, local groups have chosen annual dates to jump for a cause or set a new intention for the year. Sharbot Lake has been jumping for the past dozen or so years, interrupted for a couple of years by Covid, and this year was no different.

The Town Crier, Paddy O’Connor, and his assistant Crier Jonathan Wisteard, welcomed the crowd who braved the crisp -4 degree (before windchill) weather to cheer on their favourite jumper(s).

A crowd of supporters lined up alongside the Sharbot Lake Marina and had a front-row view to cheer on the brave jumpers. Some chose to wear their formal ‘Gi’ and practice a few moves dockside before taking the frigid plunge, and some donned wings. Others needed a bit of encouragement as they witnessed the red flesh as it emerged from the dark lake, firefighters ready to assist those frozen in place.

Two jumpers were seasoned pros, each having taken the plunge for the past 10 years, with the oldest (still) being Karen Burke as she flowed effortlessly along the dock, hesitating only slightly to remove her black gloves and close her kaleidoscope umbrella. The plunge was quick but deep, as she emerged, yet again, victorious in her challenge to conquer the cold and raise funds for local initiatives (North Frontenac Little Theater & CF Fire Dept). A hat was passed around to raise additional monies for the fire department who stood vigilantly as dunkers gasped and groped for the ladder to escape the cold shock as it rushed through their bodies.

Onlookers cheered extra hard for Stella as she hesitated at first, her first jump! She was a trooper as tears welled up as she emerged from the cold. A firefighter cuddled her up, and consoled her, such a brave little girl, as they bundled her off to the warming sauna. Some jumpers jumped with their martial arts groups, others solo, while a few rallied their family and friends to take the plunge for a cause. It was fun to see one of the cold-water plungers stay for a quick dip, you could see that he was another one of the seasoned jumpers, as he calmly enjoyed the refreshing dip, with a smile and a quick wave.

For those interested in taking the plunge next year, you may want to look into the Wim Hof Method, which is all about using breathing techniques to create more energy while swimming in freezing cold water, which remains a fun activity for a small, but growing minority of the general population.

As the last family climbed out of the water, a sudden gust of weather quickly cleared the docks as Mother Nature reminded us who was in charge. Many headed to the Sharbot Lake Legion #425 for a warm bowl of chili, while others continued to warm up in the lakeside sauna, which was provided by Wild River Sauna.

All told, there were 21 plungers, raising $3,200 for the Little Theatre and the fire department, and another $212 was raised by Jonathan Wisteard who passed the hat around to those attending the event. The most successful fundraising team was the Sharbot Lake Karate Club who brought in $671, but the most lucrative individual jumper, Art Holloway (North Frontenac Little Theatre President) raised over $1,000 ($1006 to be exact, on his own. The youngest jumper was 7 year old Stella ($150) and the oldest, once again, was Karen Burke. who is 79 and counting. She raised $625. And the Best Costume award went to Kayla and Brooklyn who jumped for Community Living, raising $272.

The event organisers from Community Living Noeth Frontenac, would like to thank the Central Frontenac Fire Department for enduring the cold water to keep the jumpers safe, Sharbot Lake Marina for hosting the plunge once again, as well as Wild River Sauna and the Cardinal Café, for providing hot chocolate and treats for the spectators.