The organizers of a Kelowna Polar Bear Dip have raised half of their $ 50,000 goal, although the New Year’s Day event will not take place as usual.
Donations to the Community Recreational Initiatives Society’s Freezin for a Reason campaign totaled $ 25,000 as of Monday.
The online fundraiser, advertised on the group’s Facebook page, will last until 3pm this Friday.
Hundreds of people have gathered on the beaches of Kelowna over the past six days of New Year and then stormed into the almost freezing water. Such mass gatherings are currently not possible because of the pandemic.
At the beginning of November, CRIS asked people to run into the lake alone, to stay away from other people or to face challenges that were similar to cool like an ice bath. The funds raised help CRIS to support people with disabilities in outdoor adventures with specially developed equipment.
This Friday, two CRIS representatives will do their own polar bear dip with their antics in an unknown location to be broadcast live on the group’s Facebook page. There should be ways to encourage the two of them to stay in 5C water.
For more information and donations, visit Cris Kelowna Polar Bear Dip on Facebook.
Peachland also usually has a polar bear dip on Jan 1st, but the city’s event has been canceled due to the pandemic.
