PERTH — Dozens of spectators lined the banks of the Tay River as plungers took to the icy water during the 32nd annual Perth Polar Bear Plunge.
Held in bitter cold, with temperatures reaching -19 degrees, the event drew approximately 150 participants. Organizers said the plunge raised more than $30,000 in support of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 244 and their community programming. The legion has been the location of the Polar Bear Plunge since its inception.
The annual fundraiser has become a winter tradition in Perth, bringing together community members, volunteers and supporters despite extreme winter conditions. The event has raised over a half-million dollars in its three-plus decades of existence.
Organizers also announced that next year’s Polar Bear Plunge proceeds will benefit Project Trauma Support. The organization provides direct trauma informed care and support and conducts research to deepen understanding, validate its approach, and share knowledge with clinicians and the communities it serves.
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