Hundreds of Montrealers gathered along the banks of the St. Lawrence River in the Montreal borough of Lachine at Riverfront Park for the annual Polar Bear Challenge to raise funds for Special Olympics events.
It was the 15th anniversary of the event in Montreal organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a group dedicated to raising money for Special Olympics around the world.
“About 75 percent of our funding is coming from activities like this,” said Daniel Granger, president of the Special Olympics Quebec board.
The other 25 percent, he said, comes from governments and private donations.
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The Montreal event is one such event that takes place each winter in cities across the country.
“A week ago there were 160 jumps in Quebec City,” said Granger, “and over 200 in Lachine, so it’s huge.”
Participants included politicians, as well as law enforcement and emergency service personnel from various municipalities.
Montreal Police Chief Fade Dagher, who also organized the move, says that in addition to raising needed cash, events like these aim to help erase the stigma surrounding people with special needs and promote inclusion.
“People with special needs are part of the community,” he explained, “and the police do not serve one part of the community. The police serve the entire community, including these clients.”
Montreal city councilor Sterling Downey, who jumped three times on Saturday, agreed, stressing that people with special needs already face many barriers.
“The athletes in the Special Olympics, what they do just to compete — all the grit, all the determination — that’s why we do it,” he said.
Organizers said they raised a little over $150,000, combining the events in Montreal and Quebec City.
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