People will once again be “freezin’ for a reason” as the Polar Plunge fundraiser returns to Morden-Winkler in support of the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics Manitoba.
The icy waters of Lake Minnewasta again beckon for those who are brave enough to take a leap in support of a good cause Saturday, March 15 in conjunction with the Morden fire department’s pond hockey tournament.
“Fingers crossed that the weather co-operates this year,” said organizer Morden Police Service Sgt. Scott Edwards.
“We got lucky last year … the spring melt kind of started that week,” he recalled. “We actually had our hole cut out of the ice earlier in the week … by the end of that week on the Saturday, it was not feasible for them to play hockey on that ice … but we were able to take a few extra safety measures in getting participants out on the ice [for the plunge], and we kept spectators on dry land on the beach.”
The first year for the Morden plunge in 2015 was probably the biggest with around 50 people registered; the last few years the event has drawn closer to 30 plungers.
The 28 participants in 2024 collectively raised nearly $18,000 for Special Olympics Manitoba. Altogether, the Morden event has raised close to $170,000 since it started.
“This will be the third year we’ve done it up there [at the lake], and it’s actually going to be our 10th Polar Plunge in Morden,” Edwards noted. “We had a few in the tank at the arena, and we had a couple virtual ones—we had to get creative over the COVID years.”
The plan is to have the plunge site somewhere near where the dock is usually located at the lake, but it will be dependent on the conditions that weekend.
Participants can register as an individual or join or create a team. Every plunger is encouraged to collect pledges for the cause.
“It really adds a different element to the event going into the lake and into the icy waters of Lake Minnewasta,” said Edwards, who noted there are number of people have participated in every single event so far.
“We’ve actually had quite a few return plungers,” he said. “We’re really hoping as well to see some new faces every year because we feel like once they do it, they’re probably going to do it again. I think it’s one of those experiences that really sticks with people.”
It is always quite a moment when people take the leap and then come out of the water.
“The body kind of goes into shock a little bit, but you quickly overcome it. It’s a bit of a rush and lots of adrenaline, and it’s cool to have people there supporting you and cheering you on … so we hope to have another successful one this year,” said Edwards.
You can sign up to take the plunge yourself online at plungemanitoba.com.
