Polar Plunge Looking for #1 Super Hero

Posted by Ruth Kuchinad 
on Jan 14, 2011
 

The race is on to become the best dressed or most well-funded Super Hero at the 31st Polar Plunge on Feb 6th, 2011, @ 2 pm sharp at Rotary Park in Ennismore.  Tony Davidson, Chair of B.E.L. Rotary’s 2011 Polar Plunge Committee said, “Super Heroes as a theme was chosen specifically by the Club because all the plungers are heroes for their audacity in braving the cold, cold winter waters of Chemong Lake to aid others less fortunate”.  The theme also honours firefighters and police such as those in Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield who often rescue snowmobilers and boaters from the Chemong Lake itself.

 

In 2010, a record $42,000 was raised by 120 jumpers on 44 teams. Local organizations such as Kawartha Food Share, Seeds of Hope (Haiti), Youth Emergency Shelter, St. John Ambulance, Community Care, Cameron House, as well as national organizations such as Canadian Red Cross, Canadian Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, and Make A Wish Foundation were among the 45 different charities supported.

 

This year BEL Rotary hopes to raise even more funds for the jumpers’ worthy causes as well as for the charitable work of Rotary itself. 60% of the funds raised goes to the charity of the plungers’ choice and 40% comes back to Rotary for its service projects. These have included local projects such as the Bridgenorth Trail, Chemong Park, Rotary Park gazebo, the Eco-shed at Chemong School, playground equipment at Redpath School, support for the SEL Library and OPP, Christmas Hampers at Curve Lake, and international projects such as building orphanages, supplying wheelchairs and hosting international exchange students.

 

Mr. Davidson reported that SEL Firefighters have issued a challenge to other area fire departments to top the more than $4000 raised last year helping Camp Bucko for burn victims. Bell’s Garage - Bridgenorth hopes to raise more that their 2010 winning total of over $4200 to support the Wish Upon a Star program. Other organizations receiving plunger support include: St. John Ambulance (Jay Scotland from CHEX–TV), LAWS and Cerebral Palsy (Alyssa Bell & Rachel Dunford of Lakefield), Community Care (Anita Locke, SEL Councilor), Lakefield Legion (Henry Hipkins), and Market Hall Peterborough (Erik Hanson).  Rotary District Governor Dawn Straka says she will do the Plunge into Chemong Lake and has issued a challenge to the Districts 7010 clubs to support the Rotary Foundation.

 

It’s still not too late if you decide to enter this “freezin for a reason” event (pledge forms available under downloads and info from Tony at 705-743-4244, or email Courtney). At registration on Feb 6th, you’ll receive the special event participation t-shirt, and a hot cup of soup. After the event, you can warm up in the hot tub, change in specially provided buses and grab a snack at the Shamrock Festival booth.  Then go ahead and check out the other features on Chemong Lake such as the special ice sculptures carved by the Ice People or the antique snowmobiles provided by the Antique & Classic Snowmobile Club.

 

Come on out on Super Bowl Day to join the Plungers’ friends and families to spur them on as they make a Super Splash, showing that they indeed have rights to that #1 Super Hero trophy.