FORT FRANCES—Organizers of the Voyageur Lions Club’s seventh-annual “Polar Plunge,” held New Year’s Day on Sand Bay behind La Place Rendez-Vous, were somewhat disappointed with the low number of participants and money raised—compared to last year anyway.
“We had a particularly good year last year. We had wonderful weather and a large contingent of jumpers,” event chairman Jim Martindale said, noting 56 people took the icy dip last Jan. 1, raising nearly $20,000.
He had hoped to exceed those numbers this year, but just 40 jumpers turned out yesterday, bringing in close to $14,500 for a variety of organizations.
“We’ve taken a bit of a step backwards,” Martindale admitted, although stressing he’s not daunted by it. “We have a solid core of participants and we just have to build on that.”
He noted several groups, such as the Muskie football team, the Aquanauts, and the local gymnastics club, were not represented this year, which could account in part for the lower numbers.
“And it was a colder day,” he added. “So maybe there were some people who might have shown up if it hadn’t been so cold.”
Voyageur Lions Club president Bill Michl said they’ll just have to work a bit harder next year to gain more support.
“We’ve got to come up with a gimmick to get more people interested,” he remarked, adding he’d really like to see individuals and businesses challenge each other to get involved in the 2009 “Plunge.”
“It’s already our [club’s] biggest event, but we’d like to make it even bigger,” Michl stressed.
But although the numbers were down this year, organizers called the event a success due to the enthusiasm shown by the jumpers and spectators alike.
“We just have to take that enthusiasm and spread it throughout the community to get more people out there next time,” Michl said.
Club member and event emcee Val Martindale also noted that among the veteran participants were several first-time jumpers this year, which she called “encouraging.”
Some of the first-time jumpers included a group of nine from Dancemakers, Ashley and Kale Stamler jumping for the Rainy River Skate Park, and eight-year-old Shjon MacDonald for the local minor hockey association.
MacDonald not only was the youngest jumper this year, but also was a last-minute participant after discovering just the night before that there is no age requirement to jump.
He went out that night and raised $200.
“My family helped me out,” he said, noting the jump turned out to be warmer than he thought. “It was really cold at first, but once I got out I was fine.”
Dennis Ogilvie, who jumped on behalf of the Emo spray park, also found the icy dip not as bad as he thought it would be.
“I worked it up in mind that it was going to be a lot worse,” he remarked.
Jim Martindale also noted participants wore better costumes this year compared to other years. And he indicated the ambiance following the jump was the best it’s ever been.
“It was a great way to start the New Year,” he enthused.
Winners of the best costume award went to Maureen Hahkala (first prize), who dressed as a penguin, Verna Cridland (second prize), who dressed as a banana, and Ella Wall, who wore a mermaid costume.
They jumped for the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Voyageur Lions Club, respectively.
Meanwhile, Lorne Gill took home a prize for the individual who raised the most money (a total of $2,985 for the Special Olympics athletes). A special mention went out to John Rafferty, jumping on behalf of local Special Olympians who raised $2,404 to see him take the icy dip.
Together, a total of $5,389 was raised for the Special Olympics, making them the top fundraiser.
The Voyageur Lions has adopted the local Special Olympics as one of their major causes this year.
The participants from Dancemakers earned an extra $500 for being the top fundraising youth group, bringing in $1,492 in all.
Other groups and causes represented included the Celiac Group of Fort Frances, the “Building for the Future” campaign, the Sunset Country Squash Club, the Muskie Sport Association, Fort Frances Community Living, and the local Salvation Army.
Groups receive half of the net proceeds raised by member jumpers.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
