OAKVILLE, ON, Jan. 1, 2017 /CNW/ - Today more than 800 enthusiastic dippers of all ages braved freezing temperatures to celebrate the first day of "Canada 150" at the 32nd annual Courage Polar Bear Dip for World Vision. To start the New Year on the right foot, participants joined dip founders, Todd and Trent Courage at Coronation Park in Oakville to plunge into frigid Lake Ontario as thousands of spectators cheered them on from the shore. The atmosphere was fun and festive with live music and a sea of people wearing red & white and classic Canadian costumes including "Gord Downie" & "Yukon Cornelius", to mark Canada's birthday. This year's event raised nearly $150,000 in support of World Vision's clean water projects in Africa, bringing the lifetime total the event has raised to well over $1.5 million.
MEDIA RESOURCES:
Photos of this year's dip: HERE
Video of this year's dip: HERE
WHAT CANADIANS CAN DO:
Canadians that couldn't participate in the Dip can still make a donation by visiting http://www.polarbeardip.ca/donors.php
MORE INFO:
Web links: www.polarbeardip.ca; www.worldvision.ca
Social media: @PolarBearDip; #PolarBearDip
QUOTES:
"This was the perfect way to bring in the New Year. What can be more Canadian than jumping into a freezing lake for a good cause? I'm feeling like a frozen ice cube of adrenaline, but it's all worth it because it means clean water for children in Africa. That's what kept me feeling warm as I took the polar plunge."
-First-time dipper Eric Frans, Vice-President, Vision Partners, World Vision Canada
"We've been doing this for 32 years but I don't think I've ever been more proud to be Canadian. Being out there on the first day of Canada's 150th anniversary year with all those Canadians decked out in our country's colours was an unforgettable moment. But they're doing so much more than diving into a freezing cold lake. It's what they've done beforehand, raising money so kids in four communities in Africa can have clean water to drink. That's what keeps us going. We're going to keep doing this until we're a hundred and fifty!"
-Todd & Trent Courage, co-founders, Courage Polar Bear Dip for World Vision.
QUICK FACTS:
World Vision is a relief, development, and advocacy organization working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. Visit our News Centre at worldvision.ca
SOURCE World Vision Canada
For World Vision interviews contact: Brett Tarver - 647-825-2712 or [email protected]; Rachel Schrader - 289-208-5418 or [email protected]; For Courage Polar Bear Dip interviews contact: Peter Turkington - 905-483-0155 or [email protected]; Cheryl Singleton - 905-399-7827 or [email protected]
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