It turned out more people came to watch than participate, but the University of Guelph students taking part in the sixth annual polar bear dive into two metres of icy water did not seem to care.
And Sunday’s warmer weather was a complete fluke, too.
Had the event been scheduled for the previous week, when it was much colder, they still would have jumped through a hole in the ice of ponds at the former correctional centre.
“Actually, this was the week the Ontario government gave us,” said organizer Kirk Perrin. “And this was the first choice. We’ve been planning this for over three months.”
About a dozen people from the Delta Upsilon fraternity and three daring young women from Pi Beta Phi took part in the dive through the hole in the ice to benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Each one was completely submerged, but quickly exited the water to wrap themselves in towels and coats.
Of course, Perrin recognized that some would “chicken out.” He had noted organizers were “expecting 30 jumpers,” before some thought better of the entire project.
But the annual event is for a good cause. Perrin noted in the six years the polar bear dive has taken place, the students have raised nearly $10,000, and he hoped to go over that mark before the event was over.
Perrin said the group also did a test run to raise funds by holding a party at Vinyl, a Guelph night club.
That was on a Tuesday night and the club donated the cover charge, offered prizes, and reduced prices on refreshments.
Perrin said only 30 attended, but mid-term exams started the next day, so that was understandable. Next year, the plan is to do a better schedule to attract more people.
After their dive into the icy water, students visited the St. John Ambulance heated van, although most seemed to be invigorated and no one was injured. Many seemed proud they had talked themselves into jumping in. One student, the first to go, noted this was his third time on the jump.
To find out more about the Heart and Stroke Foundation, visit www.heartandstroke.com.
