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20FOCUS-FEBRUARY2012WalkingtowardsthePortPerryPolarPlungelastmonthittookonlyminutestorealizehowcolditwas.Evenwithoutlookingatathermom-eterwhichwouldhaveregisteredabout-18CelsiusitwasevidentthiswouldbeoneofthecoldestmorningsfortheannualdipinLakeScugog.Volunteerswhohadearlierthatmorningcutopenalargeholeintheseven-inchthickiceworkedtokeeptheopenwaterfromfreezing.Specta-torsgatheredbundledfromthebloodnumbingcoldwithwarmscarvestoquesheavycoatsandthickglovesawkwardlyholdinghotdrinks.Somethingtokeeptheblood9owing.Itseemedunimaginablethatagroupof56plungerswouldstripdowntot-shirtsandbathingsuitstomakethevaliant100yarddashfromthewarmthofthebuschangeroomandweavetheirwayalongasnowcoveredpathlinedbyalargecrowdofcheeringspectators.Badenoughx13buttheycompletedthetrekbyleapingintothefrigidbodyofcoldwaterwhichlaysparklinginthemorningsun.Groupaftergroupmadetheirwaytothelaketotaketheplungeemergingfromdunkingwithmouthsagape-cryingoutinshockandlaughterastheirbodiesshudderedfromthesuddenshockofthetemperaturechange.Butitwasallforagoodcause-nobodywasinjuredthecrowdroaredwithapprovalandtheHospitalAuxiliarypro8tedtothesumof15400thankstothebraveryoftheplungersandgeneros-ityoftheirsponsors.Sevenbusinessesandorganizations8eldedteamsthisyearbringingthetotalnumberofplungerstothehighestnumbersinceitwasstarted8veyearsago.TeamsregisteredcamefromShoppersDrugMartwhichhad11plungersandbroughtin1655.OtherteamscamefromCuddlyBunnyPortPerryPrintingCrabbyJoesCIBCScugogFire8ghtersandtheRotaryClub.Individualparticipantswerenottobeleftbehind.TheplungerswiththetopamountsinpledgeswereDebbieHodginswhobroughtinanamazing2125.JudyAndersonwith1503andTonyKaschahubfromProgressiveElectricwith1440.JudyandTonyhaveplungedall8veyearsandDebbieisonhersecondyear.AswellThorstenKoseckfromtheBoardofDirectorsforLakeridgeHealthcontributed1130.ItgoeswithoutsayingtheHospitalAuxiliaryisthankfultoalltheplungersfortheircreativespiritinchoosingfabulouscostumesfortheirincrediblebraveryinthefaceofsuchcoldandfortheirdiligenceincollectingthemanypledges.OrganizersalsowishedtothankthesponsorsoftheparticipantswhopledgedTakingtheplungewasneversocoldKatieLunnyletsoutax18coldx19scream.TheShopperx19sDrugMartteamentersthelakefrontleftMorganParkerShellieHuckaboneandKatieLunny.CloselybehindthemareBaileyTaylorLucasSewardsandLindaLowe.Unidentifedpenguintakesax18x13yingx19leap.