Campbellford is gearing up for the 34th annual Polar Plunge, a chilly but heartwarming fundraiser supporting Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH).
The event takes place Saturday, January 24th at 12 noon at Lions Club Community Park on County Road 50.
Auxiliary member Liz Mathewson says the goal this year is to raise $25,000 for hospital equipment and patient care, and thanks to a matching pledge from Bruce and Betsy Thompson, every donation goes twice as far.
“Our goal is for $25,000 that we can give directly to the hospital. We have maybe $10,000 already online pledges,” says Mathewson “plus we have a $10,000 matching pledge from Bruce and Betsy Thompson. So we’re very optimistic that we’re going to reach our goal and hoping that we’re going to exceed it.”
For those who can’t attend in person, a virtual plunge option is available from January 11 to 23. Participants can submit photos or videos of their plunge to the organizers and share them on social media using #plungeforCMH.
Many participants return each year because of personal experiences with the hospital.
This year, attendees can also enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and purchase locally made polar bears at the event. Registration and pledges can be made online at plungeforcmh.ca, or offline through pledge sheets available at the hospital gift shop. Safety is emphasized, and participants are reminded to take precautions in cold water.
Mathewson says if you’ve been to a plunge before, you may see some familiar faces.
The 34th Polar Plunge promises a fun, community-focused day while supporting local healthcare making a little chill go a long way for Campbellford Memorial Hospital.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
