On January 1, starting at 8:30am, cold plunging enthusiasts will once again gather at the Perth Legion to participate in the annual Perth Polar Bear Plunge for its 30th anniversary. The Perth Polar Bear Plunge began in 1994, as a fun idea and fundraiser for Crime Stoppers. Founded by David Lavery, Stan Munro and others at the Perth Legion, it quickly grew into one of the safest and most successful true Polar Bear Plunges in Canada. To date, it has raised over $385,000 for local non-profit and charity organizations. This year, the Rural FASD Support Network is the recipient. The Rural FASD Support Network is a non-profit corporation based out of Montague Township and serves over 225 families from the counties of Lanark and Leeds-Grenville raising children and adults living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Research shows 4% of Canadians – or 3000 residents of Lanark County – currently live with this permanent disability. Research also shows 98% of those individuals are not currently diagnosed. Rural FASD would also like to thank the Hillside Church Men’s Group from Almonte for running this year’s breakfast and Wanda and Eric Labelle for their organizing of the breakfast which will consist of pancakes from Costco, syrup, sausages, fruit, eggs from BurnBrae Farms, and coffee, tea and hot chocolate from Jarryd Lee of Mighty Valley Coffee. Breakfast is free to pledgers and $10 to anyone else joining this party.

We also thank the Perth Legion for hosting, the Perth FireFighters Association for ensuring everyone’s safety, MPP John Jordan for providing a signed certificate of participation, MP Scott Reid in supporting our entry of Pete the Polar Bear in the Perth, Almonte and Carleton Place Santa Claus parades, Lake 88 for providing media coverage, Perth’s own Town Crier for opening the event, the Town of Perth for marketing, Councilor Erin Rose of Beckwith Township for plunging, Parks Canada for hosting, the incredible Rural FASD Youth Group for volunteering, plunging and sharing their voice and to everyone pledging. Prizes including toques, gloves, and gift baskets will also be given to the top pledgers thanks to sponsorship from Wills Transfer, 3M, Giant Tiger, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Barnabe’s Independent, Metro and Jersey’s Joes in Perth, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, and Andress Independent in Smiths Falls, and Canadian Tire, Giant Tiger and Wal-Mart in Carleton Place. Due to the generosity of Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth, all Perth Polar Bear pledgers can receive a tax donation slip by going to https://www.polarplunge2024.ca/register and registering to participate or donating to their preferred plunger. On January 1, let’s make the 30th anniversary of this incredible event the best one yet!

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