In their first time hosting a Polar Plunge, LaSalle police exceeded attendance and fundraising goals.
About 160 people arrived at the LaSalle Event Centre on Thursday evening intent on diving into a pool of frigid water.
LaSalle Police Service Chief Michael Pearce was the first to take the plunge.
“We wanted to bring the event local. We’ve supported the Windsor-Essex plunge, and they’ve been doing that for about eight years, and we’ve enjoyed being part of that,” Pearce told CTV News.
“But I thought, let’s bring it locally, see what we can do. It’s all about raising money for Special Olympics.”
Ahead of his icy dip, Pearce helped further raise funds by offering to stay in the water for one minute if additional donations were made. After a number of residents quickly rushed over with money, Pearce kept his promise.
“At first, I thought that was a bad idea, but by the time the minute was over, it wasn’t so bad,” he said.
Before the event, organizers set a $10,000 fundraising goal. Proceeds support programming and events for Special Olympics Ontario, including those in LaSalle.
Surpassing the goal, the plunge’s online fund tracker indicated more than $48,000 was raised before the event.
“So I’m overwhelmed with the turnout and the support,” Pearce said, thanking two dispatchers with the service who played major roles in organizing the polar plunge.
“We’re going to break $50,000 tonight, so that’s absolutely incredible, and for sure we’re going to do this again next year.”
Environment Canada logged the temperature at the Windsor Airport at minus 11 C with the windchill around the time the event started.
