Dippers brave the icy waters at annual event
Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Sue Dickens
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Sue Dickens, Campbellford EMC
Ginette and her husband Ken Dehne of Ken's Stereo and TV, Campbellford, make a dash for the shore after taking the plunge for the first time along with Earl McLean, (in the water) Royal Canadian Legion Branch 103, Campbellford, who took his second plunge.
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Sue Dickens, Campbellford EMC
For Staff Sergeant Craig Semple, of the OPP Northumberland Auxiliary, this was his tenth and final plunge. Craig is always involved in something in the community, notably volunteering to help the local food bank.
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Sue Dickens, Campbellford EMC
MPP Rob Milligan, centre, gets some moral support for his novice plunge from his parents Susan and Ray Milligan.
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Sue Dickens, Campbellford EMC
MPP Rob Milligan took the plunge and was welcomed back onto dry land by his daughter Linda, nine, who had a towel waiting to hand to
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EMC Lifestyles -Campbellford - The art of being a "dipper" took on a whole new meaning last Saturday at the Polar Bear Plunge as the 25 participants faced walking into the Trent River, instead of the usual jump through a hole in the ice. 
Sue Dickens, Campbellford EMC
from left, taking a leap of faith so to speak as they plunged into the icy water.
The lack of ice on the waterway meant plungers had to develop their own unique style to overcome the somewhat slower than normal process of getting wet.
The snow squall that was just starting to develop made the plunge a true wintertime event.
Most of the "dippers" ran headlong into the shallow water at the river's edge while others actually took a few steps then dove into the icy river.
Linda Bradshaw, director of ambulatory care services with the Campbellford Memorial Hospital took the plunge for the fifth year in a row.
"I love the atmosphere, it gives you the biggest rush to do that," she told EMC.
"I go home afterwards and I'm on such a high that I do my housecleaning, my vacuuming, it's wonderful," she added laughing.
Plungers Ken Dehne and his wife Ginette dressed in hula skirts for the dip.
"I'm really excited. It's all for a good cause," said Ginette.
"We've never done it before," said Ken, who operates Ken's Stereo and TV in town. The couple raised $1,600 in pledges.
Twelve-year-old Fiona Gibb, of Oshawa, the granddaughter of Pennylynn Sims of Norwood was among the spectators cheering on the "dippers."
"I would do it if I had a high metabolism," she commented with a serious face.
For rookie MPP Rob Milligan, it was another first which he did by making a dash for the waterway and on his way back to the warm bus set up on the site for plungers, he was handed a towel by one of his daughters, Linda.
His parents Susan and Ray Milligan were also there for moral support.
"I didn't even know he was doing this until I read it in the paper," said his mother. "I had to read a paper to find out what's going on with my son," she said laughing.
"Then somebody in the coffee shop said, 'Well are
you bringing a blanket for him?'
"I said well he's a big boy if he doesn't know what he's doing by now," she added.
The fire department was on the scene to help the plungers to safety if need be.
"The challenge here is not as big as other years when we had a hole in the ice," said Captain Pat Elliott of the Campbellford/Seymour Branch of the Trent Hills Fire Department.
"The biggest challenge is the current that flows through. We'll have two people in the water to do a quick rescue if required," he added, "and we'll have one person on shore for backup in case our guys need any help."
The Polar Bear Plunge was finished within ten minutes.
For Pat Bannister it was her final year organizing the event.
"I have really enjoyed doing this for the auxiliary," she said.
The plunge is a major fund raiser for the auxiliary to the Campbellford Memorial Hospital.
Later that day the Campbellford Legion turned over a cheque for $500 to auxiliary Co-president Pat Bannister and the first Polar Festival dance was in full swing at the time.
The tally of the monies raised was not available at press time.
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