Fancy a nice cold swim next Sunday? Like about 9 degrees cold? Around 100 people are expected to undertake their craziest deed of the year when they leap into the nine-degrees-above-icy water of Grey Dam outside Grahamstown, in the city's annual Polar Plunge.
Fancy a nice cold swim next Sunday? Like about 9 degrees cold? Around 100 people are expected to undertake their craziest deed of the year when they leap into the nine-degrees-above-icy water of Grey Dam outside Grahamstown, in the city's annual Polar Plunge.
The tradition, which sponsor PG Glass's TIm Dold describes as "off the wall in a typically wacky Grahamstown kind of way", is now in its 11th year.
Held anually on the Winter Solstice, 21 June, the idea behind the event is to look ahead from midwinter to the increasingly longer days ahead, and the return of warmth and sunlight.
Participants line up on the bank of Grey Dam while founder and organiser George Euvrard addresses the participants briefly. He ends with the words, "into the light!".
That's the signal for the motley group standing on the bank to plunge into the water for a 40-metre swim to the exit point near the braai stands.
There Dold and the PG Glass staff will be on hand with hot chocolate.
But PG Glass are offering more than just comfort for cold swimmers.
For the past 10 years, the Grahamstown branch of the franchise has served as a collection point for warm winter clothing and blankets during the months of May, June and July.
Through their social responsibility programme PG Cares, they collect and store "anything warm – beanies, jerseys, jackets" Dold says.
"There are incredibly poor people out there who are grateful for anything the public can offer – whether it's warm clothing or blankets."
The items are distributed through NGOs and churches to communities as far afield as Alexandria and Fort Beaufort.
PG Glass offers the use of its vehicles for monthly trips to deliver the goods.
Polar Plunge participants are asked to bring items for donation to the swim next Sunday.
"At last year's Polar Plunge we filled the back of a Corsa pickup with warm clothing and blankets," Dold said this week.
Euvrard says PG's collection drive has added another layer of significance to the event.
"With PG Cares coming in, it has brought a lovely element to the Polar Plunge," Euvrard said.
The event started 11 years ago, he said, as a way of "celebrating life and giving it hell".
When swimmers hit the water at 7.30am on Sunday 21 June, it will likely be around 9 degrees, says Emile Fox from East Cape Pools.
Measuring the water temperature at the exit point of the Polar Plunge on Wednesday, he said it was around 11C.
"But this is at the edge, and on the surface," Fox warned.
"Out there in the middle of the dam it will be closer to nine degrees."
For more information about the swim call George Euvrard at 082 921 2699. For more information about winter donations, visit PG Glass in Bathurst Street or chat to staff at the Dam next Sunday.
And don't forget to bring an extra blanket!
sue@grocotts.co.za
