Volunteers take the plunge for food bank

victoria handysides/metro edmonton

Sam Ireland was one of 13 fundraisers who braved freezing temperatures to support Edmonton’s Food Bank yesterday by taking a plunge in an icy dunk tank outside the Royal Glenora Club.

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Published: January 25, 2010 5:11 a.m.

Last modified: January 25, 2010 12:14 a.m.

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Despite frigid temperatures, roughly a dozen Edmontonians took a frosty plunge yesterday afternoon, the first breaking through a layer of ice before hitting the water.

“It’s wonderful — it’s not –30 C, which is great,” said bathrobe-clad Realty Executives Polar Bear Dunk organizer Dave Schroder, standing outside the Royal Glenora Club yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday’s event marked a decade of diving for the group, who strip down and dive in to raise funds for Edmonton’s Food Bank each year. Organizers say they don’t want the city’s less fortunate to be forgotten in the wake of international disasters.

“It’s great that people can help out elsewhere, and they need to do that, but there are people right here in Edmonton who need help as well,” Schroder said.

By midday, 13 individual divers raised roughly $15,000 for the charity.

Temperatures hovered around –18 C with wind chill, and paramedics and trained divers stood at the ready in case problems arose.

“It’s not easy on a day like today to do this,” Schroder said. “But, it’s for a great cause, so we’ve got to give everyone credit.”

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