The ongoing pandemic has affected many events, including the annual Polar Plunge. The Special Olympics in London hosts a Polar Plunge every year in support of athletes with disabilities.
Due to the pandemic, this year’s Polar Plunge had to be cancelled.
A polar bear plunge is an event held during the colder months where participants enter a body of water. They are held to raise money for charitable organizations.
With the use of social media, people can participate in their own homes by taking a bath with ice cubes or having a cold shower.
Londoner participating in the virtual polar plunge/ CTV News
Bill Mills, one of the volunteers for the Special Olympics, shares how you can show your support at home.
“We’re encouraging people to sign up as individuals or teams and do a virtual Polar Plunge. It can be anything at all. Even a cold water ice bucket challenge. I’m going to be making a big angel in the snow and get dumped on.”
Polar Plunge for Special Olympics logo/ Stillwater News Press
Despite these virtual programs, athletes are eager to return to in-person sports and activities. They need your support now more than ever. He then shared why everyone at home should take part in this virtual event.
“We hope to see that people are urged to take a video, take pictures, do whatever they can and post them through social media to show what they’ve done for the virtual Polar Plunge. We just want to keep the enthusiasm going as there are athletes can’t be together to do their sports. They’re missing out physically and socially.”
The virtual Polar Plunge allows everyone with a little courage to get cold and creative for a good cause. All funds raised from the event will support programming for over 26,000 athletes across Ontario.
The 2021 Virtual Polar Plunge is happening until February 28th, 2021. Use your Plunge video over on social media platforms to help get pledges.
For more information or if you want to make a donation, check out polarplunge.ca
