The return of an in-person Polar Plunge in Chatham on Saturday turned out to be the largest event in its six-year history, more than doubling its fundraising goal.
Before the first participants took an icy-plunge on Saturday at the Sons of Kent Brewery, the event, organized by the local Law Enforcement Torch Run team, had raised over $80,000, surpassing its $40,000 goal.
“It’s been truly awe inspiring for everyone on our team who put this together, just to watch that number (of funds raised) grow, almost hourly online, it’s unreal,” said lead organizer Sgt. Jason Herder with the Chatham-Kent Police Service.
He said over the last three months witnessing how the fundraiser has picked up traction and gained momentum “has been nothing short of awe-inspiring.”
He noted more than 150 people signed up to take the plunge – the highest pre-plunge total to date – and more than 1,200 people donated to plungers, which is also another record.
In addressing the crowd before the plunge began, Herder said, “I want you to know that every single dollar that we’ve been able to fundraise for this event, directly impacts our Special Olympic athletes.”
One of those Special Olympic athletes is Tod Kane.
Saturday was the second local Polar Plunge that Kane has participated in and it was particularly special for him.
“I’m doing it in honor of one of our fallen coaches – Mike Currie,” he said. “I’m dedicating this to him.”
The retired Chatham-Kent police officer, who died suddenly while traveling abroad, last October, was a long-time support of Special Olympics – co-hosting the provincial Summer Games in 1997 with long-time friend and fellow officer Peter Bakker. He was also a regular Polar Plunge participant.
Kane, 50, said he first met Currie when he took up curling about three or four years ago.
He said Currie taught the team members “not to put ourselves down if we through the rock wrong.”
Kane added Currie was also a great guy who “would always kid around with us.”
A moment of silence was held for Currie and others who have passed away since the last time the Polar Plunge was held in person in Chatham.
Members of the Currie family were present with one of his daughters telling those in attendance: “My dad loved giving back to the community, especially when it benefited the Special Olympics Ontario.
“If there was an event, he could show off his fun-loving spirit, he was sure to be there.”
Velma Bachtold, Special Olympics co-ordinator for Chatham-Kent, said the funds raised are “going to help athletes so much.”
She noted some of the funds stay in Chatham-Kent, which helps send local athletes to national and provincial events.
Bachtold said local Special Olympians participate in curling and bowling, but they would like to expand the programs.
“We’re trying to find some new coaches to get some new sports going like swimming and basketball,” she said.
Herder said for more than 50 years Special Olympics has grown from a modest program that serves local athletes to “become the world’s largest movement dedicated to prompting respect, inclusion, acceptance and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sport.”
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is largest public awareness vehicle and a grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics, he added.
More than 97,000 members of law enforcement organizations “carry the flame of hope that symbolize courage and the celebration of diversity, uniting communities from around the world,” Herder said.
Derek Spence, manager of the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run, said the Chatham Polar Plunge kicks off the Torch Run’s polar plunge season for the year.
“We will be promoting this, because you have set the bar for the rest of the province,” he said. “We’ll see if they can keep up, but I have my doubts, because this is outstanding.”
