OAKVILLE, ON, Jan. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - On New Year's Day more than 700 enthusiastic dippers dared to dip into the lake at Coronation Park in Oakville in what was the coldest dip in the past five years.
Temperatures hovering at -18 with windchill, and the water at 2 degrees made for an energizing kick start to the year.
"It's a great way to start the year," said mom Tatiana and daughter Natasha. "And it's now a bit of our mother and daughter tradition."
Thousands of spectators cheered on the dippers, many who were clad in wild costumes. This year some zombies, a minion, Gene Simmons and Marilyn Monroe were just a few who joined the festivities.
The event raised $137,000 dollars and all funds raised go to support clean water projects in Rwanda, allowing a community of over 7,000 people have access to clean water by providing them a water pipeline and training in good hygiene practices.
"By doing this fun and exhilarating act, we literally saved lives today," said dip co-founder Todd Courage. He, along with his mother and brother Trent, visited Rwanda four years ago to see how World Vision was helping communities through wells, improved sanitation facilities and sustainable gardens that provide income. "I saw hundreds of children carrying heavy yellow containers of water, walking many miles to deliver it back to their villages and homes - it's this image that motivates us to keep doing this."
The Courage Polar Bear Dip is Canada's largest polar bear dip for charity. Now in its 29th year, it has raised more than a million dollars since teaming up with World Vision in 1995.
For more information visit www.polarbeardip.ca.
Video with caption: "Video: Hundreds take an icy plunge at the Courage Polar Bear Dip in Oakville in the name of clean water". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20140101_C6927_VIDEO_EN_35278.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20140101_C6927_PHOTO_EN_35278.jpg&clientName=The%20Courage%20Polar%20Bear%20Dip&caption=Video%3A%20Hundreds%20take%20an%20icy%20plunge%20at%20the%20Courage%20Polar%20Bear%20Dip%20in%20Oakville%20in%20the%20name%20of%20clean%20water&title=THE%20COURAGE%20POLAR%20BEAR%20DIP%20%2D%20Hundreds%20Mark%202014%20with%20a%20Polar%20Plunge%20into%20Lake%20Ontario&headline=Hundreds%20Mark%202014%20with%20a%20Polar%20Plunge%20into%20Lake%20Ontario
Image with caption: "More than 700 dippers and 5000 spectators braved cold temperatures at The Courage Polar Bear Dip, the largest polar bear dip for charity in Canada. The event raised more than $137,000 for World Vision clean water projects in Rwanda. (CNW Group/The Courage Polar Bear Dip)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140101_C6927_PHOTO_EN_35279.jpg
Image with caption: "Revellers join the party at the The Courage Polar Bear Dip, the largest polar bear dip for charity in Canada. All funds raised go to World Vision (CNW Group/The Courage Polar Bear Dip)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140101_C6927_PHOTO_EN_35275.jpg
Image with caption: "Revellers join the party at the The Courage Polar Bear Dip, the largest polar bear dip for charity in Canada. All funds raised go to World Vision. (CNW Group/The Courage Polar Bear Dip)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140101_C6927_PHOTO_EN_35277.jpg
Image with caption: "Todd and Trent Courage, by Lake Ontario moments before the 2014 Courage Polar Bear Dip. (CNW Group/The Courage Polar Bear Dip)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140101_C6927_PHOTO_EN_35274.jpg
SOURCE: The Courage Polar Bear Dip
Darryl Konynenbelt 416-669.2602 [email protected]
Share this article