The Huntsville Polar Bear Dip (HPBD), an annual fundraising event to raise money for Community Living Huntsville, will take place on January 1 at the Hidden Valley Resort beach in the waters of Peninsula Lake.
The event will begin at 12 p.m., commencing with opening remarks and a quick safety overview before brave participants take the plunge into the icy water. Event organizer, Markus Latzel, says the event is a great way for the community to come together and connect in support of a good cause.
“It’s a great event to ring in the new year. It’s fun and it’s for a really good cause in the community,” Latzel says. “There’s a lot of camaraderie built around the event. I’ve seen entire families jump, all ages; they’re having a blast doing it, and it’s something for them to remember.”
Community Living Huntsville, the recipient of this year and the past few years’ funds, is a local organization that supports inclusive programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities in the Muskoka region.
“Overall, it’s a great partnership. They [Community Living Huntsville] help with organizing the event and raising awareness, but most of all, I think their work is really valuable in the local community,” Latzel says.
Latzel says on average, the HPBD drums up around 100 participants: around 30 as dippers and the rest as spectators. Latzel extends his gratitude to the Hidden Valley Resort staff for their hospitality and hard work to make the event a success year after year.
The HPBD Facebook page includes a link where anyone interested can donate to an existing team or create their own fundraising team. The fundraising goal for this year sits at $5000. Donations will be accepted until mid January.
