Polar Plunge aims to raise $20K for Hospice

Jamestown Sun, The (ND)

Feb. 01--Organizers hope to raise at least $20,000 for Jamestown Regional Medical Center's Home Health & Hospice on Saturday, Feb. 4, along with having lots of fun at the 11th annual Polar Pig "Walk The Plank" event.

The event is organized by Jamestown Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.).

The community is aging, and hospice is a valuable resource that is under more demand than ever, said Don Wegner, event founder. Teams including families and co-workers are raising at least $100 each to jump off the deck into a heated pool of water outside of Stutsman Harley-Davidson.

"We just started jumping in the water and it gets kind of crazy and that is what brings people out to watch," Wegner said about the event. "People are cooped up all winter and want to come out and it helps knowing that it benefits hospice."

Shar Trevithick, Home Health & Hospice manager, said the staff looks forward every year to the Polar Pig. The funds raised go to support providers of hospice and palliative care, bereavement and family support, family planning and preparation education and financial support for families and patients.

The funds also help stock a "comfort cart" of grief support materials and stuffed animals for kids, she said.

"But the greatest benefit of the Polar Pig has been the awareness it raises in the community. The fact that it gets people into conversation about what we do," Trevithick said. "We are so grateful for the opportunity to work within such a generous community."

The plunge started with a line of tables as a jump deck and evolved into a hay wagon converted into a pirate ship complete with costumes, he said. There will be prizes for wildest costume, biggest splash, best spirit and money raised.

The silent auction in 2016 raised $1,600 while the live auction brought in $3,090 with the help of auctioneer and H.O.G. member Roger Nenow. This year's auction includes a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am donated by Wilhelm Chevrolet Buick GMC.

People can drop auction items off at Stutsman Harley-Davidson and call Wegner with any questions at 320-7866.

George Quigley and Laurie Hayes started the Polar Pig Splash Chili Cook Off that is organized by District 8 American Bikers Aiming Toward Education. Guests paid $5 to sample cups and vote for the top three out of 17 contestants in 2016 to raise $750.

"We usually have around 18 to 20 contestants," Hayes said. "It helps bring a lot of people to the event and it is raising money for a good cause too."

Guests rank the entries by number and the top three winners get plaques and bragging rights, she said.

Lisa Jackson, director of the JRMC Foundation, said the 10 Polar Pig events over 10 years have raised $159,526 for JRMC Hospice. Last year, hospice served 102 patients and their families for a duration of care that ranged from one to 266 days, she said.

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