Taking the plunge
It’s not often a group of firefighters and police officers will encourage people to jump into near-freezing water in -15 degree weather, but that’s exactly what happened Saturday near the Family Leisure Centre.
The morning marked the first ever Polar Plunge, which was held by the Medicine Hat Police Service to raise money for the Special Olympics being held here from July 7-9.
After cutting a large enough hole through the 12-inch-thick ice, roughly 80 people took turns jumping in, and quickly getting out of the water, which was around four degrees Celsius.
Cst. Josh Argue was one of organizers for the event, and he said he was very happy with the outcome.
“As of today we’ve raised $12,000, and we’re hoping to have raised around $15,000 for the day,” he said. “When we started this, we really didn’t know what to expect, so getting this many people out to the first event has been great.”
As for how he and the rest of the MHPS convinced so many people to donate to jump into the water, Argue says people can enjoy being unhappy, as long as they’re together.
“It’s the combined misery that builds camaraderie — if you look around, everyone is having a great time, they’re smiling and laughing and this has been a great first go at this,” he said.
Insp. Brent Secondiak was one of the first people into the water, and he says this is something he will do for every year.
“I’m feeling great,” Secondiak said after his jump. “I was a little scared there getting in the water, but it’s all for a great cause, so it’s worth it to me — I’ll do this again for sure.”
The largest corporate donor at this year’s plunge was Team SD 76, made up of people from the local school division, and who raised more than $1,600. Team member and jumper Stacey Miner says she greatly enjoyed the event, but will not be making the plunge in the near future.
“I feel very invigorated,” she said. “I’ll probably never do it again — next year it’ll be someone else’s turn, but I’ll be here cheering them on.”
She said the group wanted to support the Special Olympics, because of their students.
“SD 76 values all of our students and it is really exciting to see children of all abilities succeed,” she said. “When we get to watch the Special Olympics and see so many of our students in their element and thriving, it’s really just great.”
Argue said the plan is to make the plunge a yearly event.