By Steve Hubrecht
The nonprofit Recreation Adapted (RAD) Society’s annual Polar Plunge saw a record turnout recently.
The plunge was held over the B.C. Family Day long weekend on Saturday, Feb. 15 and Sunday, Feb. 16. It was the ninth edition of the event, which raises funds for RAD to help increase outdoor recreation options in the Columbia Valley for people who face mobility challenges.
This year more than 400 plungers came out, pledged funds, and jumped into Taynton Bay through a big hole in the ice, and there were huge crowds of spectators at the two-day event. Organizers estimated a total turnout of 1,500 people, including polar swimmers and onlookers.
The 400 plungers was an increase from the already-eye catching number of 375 who jumped into the icy lake last year.
RAD Society founder Tanelle Bolt explained that kids in particular seemed to love using the adaptive ice skating sledges and adaptive nordic ski equipment at the event.
“They were using them all day. They seemed to be having so much fun,” Bolt told the Pioneer. She added that this equipment is available for the public to rent at Inside Edge Boutique and Sports store in downtown Invermere.
More than $15,000 was raised during the Polar Plunge, which will be used to help create barrier-free access at Kinsmen Beach. There is an accessibility ramp to help those facing mobility challenges get into the water at the beach at James Chabot Provincial Park, but not at Kinsmen Beach where “the sand is a barrier 12 months a year,” explained Bolt.
“We are so grateful to the people who commit time and energy to make this happen,” said Bolt, giving special thanks to the event’s chief organizer Ryan Karl.
The RAD Society has partnered with the University of British Columbia (UBC) in recent years on a number of initiatives, including research on the effects on a community of having accessible outdoor recreation gear available for rent. The data from that research should be coming out soon, Bolt noted.
Although RAD’s reach now extends across the province, “we will continue to make a mark in Invermere,” said Bolt.
Some of the accessible outdoor recreation gear available for the public to rent in Invermere is reportedly the only such publicly available gear of its kind anywhere in the world.
To find out more visit www.radsociety.ca.
PHOTO STEVE HUBRECHT
