On the 9th day of March 2018, over 20 brave plungers came together to take the leap into freezing cold water in the name of raising money for Special Olympics Ontario. West Grey Police hosted our second annual Polar Plunge raising eight-thousand-four-hundred and eighty dollars. Proceeds of the event make Special Olympics games possible providing funding for athletes to compete in their sport and to gain friendships that will last a lifetime.
St Peters St Pauls School in Durham was nice enough to be the host site for the event and the West Grey Fire department was on scene to provide a freezing cold plunge tank. A day filled with events including a dance party hosted by 88.7 The River, kept smiles across everyone’s face throughout the day. Students elected to raise money by paying for votes to decide which Teacher or Police Officer would be receiving a Pie in the Face with a result of five messy faces. Afterwards, the students and faculty of St Peters St Pauls School invited Special Olympics athletes to partake in a hockey and basketball game as the stands cheered for the players and screamed for prizes being tossed into the stands.
After all the excitement, students filled their stomachs with free hot dogs and plungers prepared themselves with warm hot chocolate all provided by local sponsors. Prizes and awards were given out including a $500 Air Canada travel voucher won by our highest fundraiser Sharilyn Clowes!
Finally the moment everyone waited for, the countdown “5,4,3,2,1 PLUNGE!” the spectators screamed as our plungers jumped into the ice cold water one after another wearing funny costumes at causing a big splash. High fives were given and towels were passed out as the plungers exited the plunge tank with smiles and shivers knowing that they have benefited so many of our Special Olympics Athletes.
Last year this event raised just over $5000 resulting in West Grey receiving an award for Highest Growth in Fundraising. This year our community blew it out of the water! West Grey Police Service will be proud to present a cheque for $8480.65 to Special Olympics Ontario on behalf of all of our community members and sponsors who made this event possible. We can’t thank our sponsors enough for standing behind such a great cause and our participants for being Brrr-ave enough to take the plunge.
Thank you all and see you next year!
- Your West Grey Police Service
Community Partners