Swimmers Raise Funds & Goose Bumps for Good Causes

Apr 09, 2025

Two months later, the water was still cold! Sharbot Lake Polar Plunge

As if to remind everyone that the forces of nature are not aligned with this year’s Sharbot Lake Polar Plunge, on an otherwise calm, cool, grey morning, which eventually yielded to a brilliantly sunny afternoon, a short burst of sleet/ice pellets came down at the Sharbot Lake beach, precisely when the Polar Plunge was taking place.

It was fitting, after the first scheduled plunge was obliterated by the biggest winter storm of the last five years, in February, and the second scheduled plunge coincided with the largest ice storm in recent memory, five weeks later.

At least this time, the roads were clear and people were able to come out, and the bad weather did not last.

Undaunted, the polar plungers ran headlong into the lake, before a full immersion into the water.

The stars of today's event were the plungers, all dressed up and nowhere to go but in the water.

They included: Alex & Kenzie McCauley, Karen Burke, Cindy Faucher, Julian Valicent, Linda Harding, Linda DeVries, Debbie Harding, Gord Sirrs, Tammy Littlejohn, Vera Fanning, Bob Young, Rhonda Kimberley-Young, Daniel Lees, Shawn Duggan and his dog Ruby, April Conboy, Paige & MacKenzie.

The volunteer organisers from the Sharbot Lake Pickleball club and the District # 3 Rec Committee said they “wish to thank everyone for volunteering to do the icy cold plunge today, in the freak blizzard we got, and for their efforts in collecting sponsorship pledges to raise funds for the resurfacing of the Sharbot Lake Pickleball courts.”

The committee felt that the turnout was excellent under the circumstances and delays, and some really unpleasant weather on the day.

The committee also sent their thanks to the Central Frontenac fire crew who donated their time to ensure all the plungers were safe.

The crew had to spring into action at one point, when Karen Burke’s glasses fell into the water and had to be found and retrieved.

Gord Sirrs won the prize for best plunger's costume.

The plunge raised $6705 in cash, along with food bank donations.