(Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

A chilly dip for fundraiser

Polar Bear Plunge planned for Pinehouse Lake

Mar 14, 2024 | 4:59 PM

People at Pinehouse Lake will be getting ready to take a chilly dip this coming Saturday as part of the 5th annual Polar Bear Plunge.

The plunge starts at 1 p.m. but there will be a few other activities leading up to it, starting at about 12 p.m.

Organizer Martine Smith, with help from her volunteers, is looking forward to the fun event. Funds raised will benefit the community, to help with the costs for cancer treatment medical trips and for various youth initiatives.

“We have a lot of cancer patients in the community that can’t afford to go out every week for chemo, so we provide funding for them,” Smith said.

She noted those taking part in the Polar Bear Plunge are welcome to “dress to impress,” to have some fun with their costumes for the event.

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“We’re going to have a surprise category,” Smith said. “We’re going to give them a prize for either the best-dressed or the most creative, or the silliest, [outfit].”

It’s guaranteed to be a cold dip for those who brave the waters, but she said temperatures are fairly mild at Pinehouse Lake at the moment for this time of year.

“It’s pretty warm here,” Smith said. “I think that we’re going to have a warm Saturday honestly. It’s really warm this week, so I’m hoping that it stays warm.”

The lake is still frozen so a hole has been cut in the ice where the participants will jump in for the plunge.

A total of 27 people have signed up to take part in the event, compared to last year when 31 participated.

A number of outside organizations have partnered with the community for the event, as well as many local people. Among those taking part is former MLA Rob Norris.

Smith is thrilled to see all the support for the cause.

“We’re very ecstatic about the event,” she said. “Last year we raised $28,500, and so it goes a long way in our community. The community is very happy with the event.”

Last year the event’s funds raised $18,000 to people who needed to travel from Pinehouse Lake to Saskatoon for cancer treatment.

Smith was also a cancer patient herself from 2020 to 2022 and had to travel to treatment sessions, so she knows what cancer patients go through.

“Some of us have to take time off work, and we have to travel weekly for some of the chemo treatments,” she said, adding that that money will help a lot of people.

A total of $10,500 last year went to youth initiatives, such as youth conferences and other projects.

Smith plans to take part in the plunge herself this year as well.

She has taken part in the event every year since it’s been running.

For this year, there is no fundraising goal, because as Smith says: “There is no room for disappointment here. Everyone is always pretty happy with the money [raised]. We already know we are over $20,000 at the moment, if the jumpers jump in.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsnow