Ness Lake Bible Camp’s (NLBC) 19th annual Polar Bear Dip was a smashing success according to Program Director Dayna Penson.
With the swim, Ness Lake aimed to raise money to send children from the Ron Brent community to camp for free.
The event saw 115 dippers brave the cold water, and raising over $22,000 in the process.
This year doubled last year’s total of $11,000 dollars, something Penson said she could not have predicted.
“I was hoping to be able to send 40 kids to camp, and we have made that and plus some,” she said.
“So I think we can send over 50 kids to camp now.”
The highest pledge belonged to the local Stoffer family, who donated $6,000.
There were also bells at the end to encourage people to ‘ring’ in the new year.
Todd Doherty also took part, marking the first time an MP has taken part in the swim.
Penson admitted the mild weather might have inspired more people to take the plunge.
“We had a lot of water on the lake, about six inches, so no one could stand on the lake. We had to have everyone on the beach!”
A view of the lake below: