An icy dip

Sheila Robertson’s mother always told her to go jump in a lake. On Saturday, she jumped in to a river instead.

Robertson and about 70 other participants took the 2011 Polar Plunge in support of the Special Olympic Games. The participants stepped off a box into a hole cut out of the ice on the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway. Divers were also in the water to ensure participants could get out of the water.

Robertson, who wore a penguin costume, said she had never done a polar bear plunge before but decided to try it because it was for a good cause.

"My mom always said to go jump in lake so now I’m finally doing what I was told," Robertson said laughing. "I think this is an absolutely awesome cause. I was thinking that you can have fun, make money for kids who can go to camp and go to the Special Olympics."

While the dive was cold, numbing and a real shock to the system, Robertson said she will back for next year’s plunge.

Ken Platt, 35, a correctional officer at Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, went into the icy water twice. He also participated because it supported a good cause.

"The correctional centre really supports the Special Olympics and it looked like fun," Platt said. "I’ve done (polar bear plunges) before back home in Sault Ste. Marie. It’s not my first time but it’s my first time in 10 years to do it."

Each time he went into the water it was a shock to the system but the hardest part was to climb out, he said.

Sarah Grennan, 35, dressed as Supergirl when she jumped into the water. She said it felt like a huge rush and a real shock to the system.

"To be uncomfortable and cold for two minutes of my life is nothing compared to what these athletes have to endure in their personal lives and athletic lives," Grennan said. "I would do this again in a heartbeat."

Warren Giertuga, zone co-ordinator for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, said he hoped the event raised more than last year’s $11,000. About the same number of participants had jumped into the water as last year.

But the first polar plunge had participants run into Lake Superior. Giertuga said the weather made them lose the ice so they had to change how participants got into the water. The floodway gave the event an opportunity to cut a hole and let people jump in, he said.

"The response from the community was really good," Giertuga said. "We had a lot of participation from the law enforcement community from Thunder Bay police, OPP, correctional services, and boarder services all participating. As well as a broad range of the public who came out and support it. So it’s a really great success."

Giertuga added that they hoped to take the event to Marina Park once construction is completed.