Kathy Jenson-Robinson completes 35 laps Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, during the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District’s Polar Plunge at the Diamond Valley Lake Aquatic Center in Hemet. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Luke Hepler, 16, reacts to the cold waters of the pool at the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District’s Polar Plunge event in Hemet on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Adam Formica, 16, races his friends Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in the cold water at the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District’s Polar Plunge event in Hemet. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Claire Fredricksen, 12, slides into the pool to raise money for charity Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District’s Polar Plunge in Hemet. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Kathy Jenson-Robinson swims 35 laps Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, during the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District’s Polar Plunge at Diamond Valley Lake Aquatic Center in Hemet. She raised money for the Valley Community Pantry in Hemet. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Mark Fredricksen, 16, swims Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, during the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District’s Polar Plunge event in Hemet. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Claire Fredricksen, 12, reacts to the cold waters of the pool Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District’s Polar Plunge in Hemet. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Luke Hepler, 16, reacts to the cold waters of the pool Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District’s Polar Plunge in Hemet. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
The Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District hosted its 2023 Polar Plunge at the Diamond Valley Lake Aquatic Center in Hemet. Those brave enough to do so jumped or slid into the frigid waters of the center’s pool. It was the agency’s third such event since 2020.
Participants gathered pledges from supporters. Some swimmers jumped in for a set amount of money and others received pledges for each lap they swam, Valley-Wide spokesperson Craig Shultz said. Contributions were accepted without swimming, but all who gave $10 received an event T-shirt, he said.
Charities receiving donations from the event included the Hemet Concert Association, Living Free, Valley Community Pantry, Exceed and Friends of Valley-Wide Foundation, Shultz said.
