United Way campaign heats up with a cold plunge

The water was freezing and the hearts were warm Wednesday afternoon in the University of Alberta quad at the fourth annual Chillin' for Charity fundraiser for the United Way.

Seventy students joined faculty and administrators from the U of A School of Business to splash in sub-zero water for a good cause, despite the fact that organizers were busy breaking the film of ice that formed over the awaiting water.

"This is a great way of giving back to the community and there's no better charity to support than the United Way," said Dean of Business Mike Percy, who has taken the plunge at each of the past Chillin' events. "This year, I'm not going to do a cannonball, which has a difficulty rating of about 2.5. This year, I'm going to do a backwards angel, arms outstretched. I think it has a difficulty rating of about 3.5."

The University of Alberta's five-week United Way campaign wrapped up Oct. 10, having surpassed the $500,000 goal by $19,280.81. Chillin' for Charity helps kick off the push to the Dec. 31 goal of raising $630,000 and reaching a campaign participation rate of 15 per cent.

"[This] campaign is doing an amazing thing," said Stephane Hache, director of the United Way's Alberta capital region campaign at Wednesday's frozen fundraiser. "So, thank you to everybody involved in this event, and thank you to everyone involved in the University of Alberta campaign. You are making a big difference. And that thank you doesn't come from me, and it doesn't come from the United Way; it comes from the thousands and thousands of people who will actually get services because of you guys getting cold and wet today."

Events like Chillin' are not only successful as fundraisers, but also as a way of ensuring that making a difference can be fun.

"Events like this do an amazing job in terms of raising dollars and in raising awareness," Hache told the boisterous crowd. "I parked way down the road, and I could hear you guys from about three blocks away."

Organizers are still counting the cash raised by the icy event, but they're counting the afternoon as a win.

"It was a great success. That was definitely the biggest crowd we've ever had," said event chair Alecia Langlois. "A dozen or so people even jumped a second time."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• University
• of
• Alberta
• Edmonton
• united
• way
• school
• business
• polar
• swim
• cold
• freezing
• dive
• plunge
• fundraiser