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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday December 29, 2007 - 3 Getting a dip on the new year By Angela Blackburn SPECIAL TO OAKVILLE BEAVER O akville's Rob Walker remembers New Year's Days well ­ on that day he has dressed up as a North Pole igloo, an ice-fishing hut, been part of a six-pack of bear beer and a member of a "Jamaican" bobsledding team. That's because he's been dipping -- and not into spirits, but Lake Ontario. Since 2000, Walker has spent most New Year's Days navigating the waters of our Great Lake with either only a bathing outfit or costume between him and the icy waves. "It's not so bad," said Walker, 44, who first got involved in the muchanticipated New Year's Day polar bear dip in Oakville on a millennium lark with his buddy Rod Ireland. Now, years later, Walker is hard pressed to miss the dip. The 2008 edition is the 23rd annual Courage Brothers' Polar Bear Dip and is the largest such event in Canada. "We're less than a month away from one of the craziest and most exciting events of the winter," said Trent Courage, co-founder of what has been dubbed The Dip. Though other such events have tried to follow suit, the Oakville edition will be Canada's largest charitable dip and will support fresh water projects in Sudan through World Vision Canada. "It's water for water," said the dip's other co-founder, Todd Courage. It's a long way since the brothers dashed into the lake from the porch of a Burlington home on New Year's Day many years ago, said Walker. "By jumping into freezing cold water, our supporters will help raise enough money to drill bore holes, build wells, install water pumps and repair damaged wells in four villages in Sudan," said Todd. Over his many years of participating, Walker estimates he, personally, has raised about $9,000 for the cause. "It really is quite an event. With a costume contest, live music, prizes, hot drinks, along with all the excitement and fun, it's a carnival-like atmosphere." Rob Walker, experienced dipper The Courage Brothers' Polar Bear Dip started in 1985 when only five dippers plunged into Lake Ontario from a Burlington residence. Now the Courage Brothers' Polar Bear Dip attracts over 400 dippers and 5,000 spectators to west Oakville's Coronation Park each Jan. 1. "It really is quite an event. With a costume contest, live music, prizes, hot drinks, along with all the excitement and fun, it's a carnival-like atmosphere," said Walker. "What's most refreshing about dipping into the icy waters of Lake Ontario is the money it raises and the good news that the dip brings to some of the less developed communities around the world," said Walker. For the past 13 years, The Courage Brothers' Polar Bear Dip has partnered with World Vision to fund water projects in countries such as: South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Honduras, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Southeast Asia (tsunami relief) and Kenya. The fundraising goal for the 2008 event is $40,000 to go to water projects in South Darfur, Sudan. Donations will help reduce waterborne disease for 7,000 people in eight villages in Edd al Fursan who currently have no nearby source of clean water. This year's dip is aimed at improving the health of children and families in Edd al Fursan by providing clean water to four villages with new borehole wells and hand pumps; restoring clean water to four additional villages with repairs to eight damaged wells; LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER See New page 4 JUMP RIGHT IN: Oakville resident Rob Walker in the pre-dip hot tub as City TV's Breakfast Television does its annual pe-dip promotion. · Wood & Vinyl Shutters, Supplied & Installed · High Quality at Affordable Prices · Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed · Serving Oakville with Shop at Home Service Authorized Vinylbilt Dealer www.shuttersetc.ca Shop at Home Service FREE