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Dippers come in all shapes, sizes and ages 5 · Wednesday, January 6, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Continued from page 3 Upon returning home, they began spreading the word about what they saw. Undoubtedly, the lasting impression of their visit was both the smiles of the African people they met and the long lines of youths who travelled great distances several times a day, often foregoing school to do so, carrying large yellow jugs to gather water, usually dirty, contaminated water. The Kahi project is drilling wells, springs and bore holes in the community where water-borne disease and parasites are prevalent and droughts have left no reliable access to safe water. Just one in three families there draws water from a protected source while the rest rely on contaminated water from shallow, handdug wells, swamps and ponds. The 25th anniversary of the Courage Brothers' Polar Bear Dip for World Vision pulled out all the stops rais- An overflow parking lot at a nearby church was put to good use. A shuttle ferried dippers and spectators to Coronation Park. Some 610 dippers waded into the lake with varying degrees of enthusiasm both en route in and out of the water. "The most updated numbers are more than 610 dippers who took part. It is hard to figure out the final number since several volunteers and family members including myself go in, but don't register. We also had three dogs," said Trent. RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER Some 5,000 spectators were there to see the goosebumps, cheer the brave and not-so-brave and await with warm towels and clothes. The Courage Brothers' Polar Bear Dip for World Vision is the largest Polar Bear Dip in the Toronto area and also the largest Polar Bear Dip for charity in Canada. This year's event included greetings brought on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper while Regional Chair Gary Carr brought greetings from Halton Regional Council. The event boasts a festival-like atmosphere, with live music, costumes and celebrities. Clad in everything from bikinis, tartan skirts and clown outfits to costumes designed with awe-inspiring imagination, dippers paid $25 to enter and then raised more by getting people to sponsor them. This year, post-Dip parties were also held at The Tin Cup Sports Grill in Oakville and Burlington, with a portion of sales going to the dip. For more information, go to www.polarbeardip.ca. COLD COMFORT: Mother Donna Macphail tries to warm up son Cody after the Polar Bear Dip in Lake Ontario at Coronation Park. ing more funds this year than in its last four years combined. Since its inception, the dip has raised more than $420,000. When the Courages realized this year's event was going to raise more than originally anticipated -- due much in part to increased corporate donations -- they bumped up the goal. What ultimately transpired was as boggling to the mind as the dip is a wake-up call to the body on New Year's Day. Remaining Community Flu Immunization Clinics B e g i n n e r s W e l c o m e ! www.halton.ca/h1n1experience Creating Space Yoga Oakville Remaining Community Flu Immunization Clinic Schedule Thursday, January 7, 2010 Hatha Yoga practiced in the style of Vanda Scaravelli Tuesday, January 12, 2010 Winter 2010 Yoga Registration is now open! Classes begin Monday, January 4th Create space in the New Year for you! New Classes..."Gentle Yoga" - Wed. @ 11:45am "Beginning/Intermediate Yoga" - Wed. @ 7:45pm "Beginning Yoga" - Sat. @ 10:45am 594 Chartwell Rd, Suite 2, Tel. 905-337-3598 www.creatingspaceyoga.ca Thursday, January 14, 2010 Thursday, January 14, 2010 Saturday, January 16, 2010 www.halton.ca 050110 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1