Cool pool dip helps fund United Way

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Winnipeg Sun, Friday November 7, 2008
Reproduced with permission.
Photos: C. Procaylo/Sun media

It's the type of frigid pool party penguins would love to dive into.

Yesterday, about 50 students and one professor at the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba jumped into an outdoor pool as part of an event to raise funds for the United Way.

"If you can picture taking ice right off a lake, that’s basically what the water is like in there," said Jillian Kelsch, Team Toba vicepresident.

The Chillin' for Charity event was held as part of the JDC West Business Competition, held at 14 different Canadian schools.

Yesterday's icy plunge marked the biggest single day event for the project in Manitoba, said Kelsch.

"Each team member had the job of raising as much money for charity as possible," said Kelsch.

With help from RBC, which provided a cheque for $4,500, students hoped to raise about $10,000 in total for the United Way, said Kelsch.

Students chose to work with the United Way because of its support for a variety of different charities, she said.

Hot tubs

Before making the plunge into the frigid waters, students cheered and jumped up and down. One group of students danced up a storm decked out as members of the Blue Man Group.

After students had their chilly swim, they quickly ran over to nearby hot tubs.

Kelsch cited the students’ experience of "living in Winnipeg" as all the preparation they needed.

"It was a great day for the event — we couldn’t have asked for anything more," she said.