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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Saturday, December 26, 2009 · 4 Dip funds African water well projects Continued from page 1 the charity fundraiser that she accompanied the Courages and World Vision representatives last summer to Kahi, a village of 10,000 people in the Umutara region of Rwanda to document their trip for World Vision and the Dip. That's the site of the latest World Vision water project for which the polar bear dip is raising cash. The 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, hand-dug wells, swamps and ponds. And while charities have been struggling this year, the Courages are expecting a 10 per cent increase in the usual 400 or so participants. They have also received tremendous boosts in corporate donations this year -- perhaps to mark the dip's anniversary or perhaps more in response to the sheer need that has been communicated back to Canadians by the brothers in the wake of their trip. While this year's dip was aiming to raise the remainder of the approximate $120,000 price tag for the Kahi, Rwanda water project, additional proceeds will be directed to a new project -- a $100,000 project to be done this year in Tanzania. The amount of the project, the need and timing all influenced the Courages in choosing to support the project in Tanzania, said Trent, who added the list of projects that needs to be done seems endless. Here at home, dip participants can expect the usual New Year's Day party -- live music, costume contests for dippers and more. They can also pre-register this year on Wednesday, Dec. 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2380 Speers Rd. -- staying warm while registering and avoiding the New Year's Day lineup. Cold isn't really a hindrance this year however, according to Trent. After taking the pre-dip Monday, Trent told The Oakville Beaver that Lake Ontario has been a lot colder than it currently is in other years and so he advises if anyone has been putting off taking the dip because of cool water, this may be the year to try it in some warmer waves. To date, the Dip has raised more than $420,000 as nearly 500 people jump into Lake Ontario's icy-cold water for one purpose -- to raise money in support of fresh water projects in developing countries around the world. Dressed everything from bikinis, tartan skirts and clown outfits to costumes designed with such imagination that it can leave you awestruck, the dippers sacrifice themselves each year to help others. Dippers pay $25 to enter and then raise more by getting people to sponsor them. This year, post-Dip parties will also be held at The Tin Cup Sports Grill in Oakville (1540 North Service Rd. W.) and Burlington (1831 Walkers Line, Unit 2) and a portion of sales will go to the Polar Bear Dip. The dip began when the Courages' mother, Gaye, challenged them one New Year's Day to go jump in the lake if they had nothing better to do. They did and the Dip is the result. Now, people come from near and far to participate and the event is the largest of its kind in Canada. For more information, go to www.polarbeardip.ca. MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER POLAR BEAR DIP PROMO: Trent Courage is interviewed by Jennifer Valentyne of Breakfast Television in a hot tub at Coronation Park. 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