Community members are invited to go jump in the lake at Friday Harbour’s annual Take the Plunge polar dip this weekend in Innisfil.
By braving Lake Simcoe's icy waters on Saturday, March 9, they'll be supporting the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) Foundation’s Keep Life Wild campaign.
According to the foundation's website, the campaign supports its vision to expand RVH's current site in Barrie to double its size, as well as build a south campus in Innisfil.
For $25, participants will receive an event T-shirt, a hot beverage and bragging rights.
“Community events like Take the Plunge are a wonderful way for people to get involved and rally behind a cause that is important to all of us: our health,” said foundation board member Dr. Raj Grover. “As a regional health centre, RVH provides advanced care to people across Simcoe-Muskoka for cancer, cardiac, trauma, and mental health.
"This is the kind of specialized care that only RVH provides in our region," Grover added. "Donor support, through events like this, is critical to our ability to continue to provide the excellent patient care we’re known for now and in the future as our region continues to grow at a rapid pace.”
Grover will be taking the plunge at Friday Harbour on behalf of Team RVH.
“Jumping into a frozen lake in the middle of a Canadian winter is definitely keeping with our Keep Life Wild Campaign message,” said Al Gilchrist, chair of the RVH Innisfil South Campus Cabinet.
He will be taking the plunge for the second year in a row.
“It is definitely time for Innisfil to have its own hospital,” said Gilchrist. “Our cabinet members all want to see a hospital in Innisfil, and have made a commitment to help make this happen.”
Organizers hope to raise $50,000 for the campaign.
“The support we’ve seen from people across the region has been overwhelmingly positive,” Grover said. “We know this is a cause the people of Innisfil are extremely passionate about and their support through events like this one will help propel this project forward.”
Anne Smith is a member of both the cabinet and foundation board. Her reasons for supporting the campaign are deeply personal.
“I received amazing care from the RVH team during my cancer journey and this is my way of giving back to the hospital and helping them expand world-class care ‘closer to home,'” Smith said.
At this time last year, new donations totalling up to $9 million were doubled by a very generous donor. That threshold has been surpassed many times over.
“As of December last year, the campaign raised over $50 million of our $100-million goal. Support from our generous matching donor family not only helped us reach this amazing milestone, but also helped to ensure that we’re able to continue to provide world-class care ... for many years to come,” Grover said.
Supporters are welcome to cheer on registered polar dippers from the shore, where they will be invited to purchase warm beverages and delicious food. A disc jockey will provide tracks to entertain attendees and keep onlookers moving.
The action gets underway at 11 a.m. at the Harbour Master Building.
You can register for the plunge via its Eventbrite page, or support the campaign here.
