Students participate in Polar Bear Dip.
Around 200 students from Western Technical-Commercial School, Lester B Pearson Collegiate Institute, and Lakeshore Collegiate Institute took a plunge into Lake Ontario at Sunnyside Beach March 10 to raise money for Free the Children and their Haitian earthquake relief efforts. In total, $16,000 was raised between the three schools.
Staff photo/ANICE WONG
Staff and students from Western Technical School, Lakeshore Collegiate Institute and Lester B. Pearson were lucky Wednesday, March 10 that the weather cooperated. Close to 200 took the plunge into Lake Ontario all in the name of raising much-needed funds for earthquake relief in Haiti. The Polar Bear Dip raised almost $20,000, which will be donated to 'Free the Children,' one of the first charities to arrive in Haiti, bringing aid. "It was great," said Western Tech's Mike Farley, who teaches Grade 9 and Grade 12 Geography. "When you came out of the water, it wasn't bone chilling or teeth chattering. The kids were really excited. The dip was the culmination of fundraising and raising awareness."The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has a good relationship with 'Free the Children,' explained Farley. "They're a very trusted organization. It made perfect sense," he said.The monies collected will go to Free the Children's efforts to rebuild schools and provide medical aid. Ten dollars of medical supplies can be purchased for every dollar raised - made possible through a partnership between Free the Children and World Medical Relief.Western Tech started the Polar Bear Dip last year with 50 students. Two more schools decided to join in given the devastation experienced in Haiti.