The sun was shining and the temperatures felt spring-like on Saturday as more than 100 people plunged into the icy waters of Sudbury’s Ramsey Lake for a good cause.
Organized by Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS), the annual Polar Plunge raises critical funds for Special Olympics Ontario.
The in-person viewing of event had been 'put on ice' for the last few years due to the pandemic.
GSPS Chief Paul Pedersen says this event brings the community together.
“This is all about police and Special Olympics doing a good thing together,” Pedersen says.
“This is all about coming back from COVID and being out in the open northern air.”
He said it is about raising money for a good cause. Pedersen has taken the plunge for the past nine years.
“It’s really not as bad as everyone expects,” he said.
“It’s cold, you’re out, you dry off and you have fun.”
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Lynne Houle from Special Olympics Sudbury told CTV News that the Polar Plunge has raised tens of thousands of dollars in critical funding for the organization, helping athletes continue to play the sports they love.
“It goes such a long way. Any little penny counts,” said Houle.
The organization supports 300 athletes in Greater Sudbury alone.
Houle said many of the athletes are on ODSP and require financial support.
“We subsidize a lot for our sports programs and also when they travel, everything is paid for, so they have a very minimal amount of money to pay for these things,” she said.
The event was in-person for the first time in two years.
GSPS Sergeant Hally Willmott is one of the organizers of the event. She said she was pleasantly surprised with the turnout and the generous donations.
“At the end of the day, the best thing we can invest in is our own community and our own athletes,” said Willmott.
She told CTV News this event was only able to come together thanks to countless hours from dedicated volunteers.
“They’re police officers, they’re civilian members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service,” said Willmott.
“They volunteer their time to put this together.”
Houle says Special Olympics is always looking for volunteers and events like this make such a huge difference in athletes’ lives.
For more information on Special Olympics events in northern Ontario, visit their website.
