Watch above: Some Edmontonians took Sunday’s extreme cold to a new extreme. But it was all for a good cause.
EDMONTON — An extreme cold warning and a wind chill value near -30 Sunday didn’t stop a group of brave Edmontonians from taking the plunge for a good cause.
In what would be a tough challenge on a seasonable winter day, Edmonton Police Service members and other brave Edmontonians took part in the 2015 polar plunge at Lake Summerside.
About 70 people took part in the plunge, which involves stripping down and jumping into a freezing cold lake. The temperature hovered around the -23°C mark during Sunday’s event.
“I don’t know if I should say they’re amazing or crazy,” Cst. Amanda Trenchard with the EPS said with a laugh. “I guess amazing and a little crazy.”
A little crazy, perhaps, but the polar plunge is for a very good cause: Special Olympics Alberta.
“It’s a lot of fun to play and it’s a lot of fun to get out there and just enjoy yourself,” said Gordon MacIntyre, who plays on the Special Olympics hockey team.
MacIntyre also took the plunge, and describes it as an awesome experience.
“It was good. It was cold, but it was good.”
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The EPS hoped to raise $15,000 in this year’s plunge. Trenchard said the goal had already been exceeded by Sunday.
“This money really helps them (the athletes) in their chance to show off their abilities in sport and travel for that sport,” said Trenchard, who also coaches for Special Olympics Alberta. “It’s so important to me, it’s so worthwhile. If you ever meet or ever get the chance to work with athletes you’ll completely understand why I do a crazy thing like this.
“It’s just amazing when you see them compete and show off their abilities in what they can do. So many look at them and just see their disability, but they have so many abilities and so much they can offer.”
Plungers must raise a minimum of $50 in order to take part.
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