Police and politicians take the plunge for Special Olympics

By Lethbridge Herald on February 26, 2022.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Lethbridge police chief Shahin Mehdizadeh takes the plunge for the Special Olympics Friday at Arctic Spas. The annual polar plunge is a fundraiser staged by members of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Al Beeber – Lethbridge Herald

The outside temperature was higher than in recent days but the looks on faces of city politicians and police who took the plunge for the Special Olympics Friday suggested it was cold enough.

The annual polar plunge, staged by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, is an endeavour to raise funds for the Special Olympics.

Donations on behalf of the LPS team, called the BRRRothers, can be made through https://soa.crowdchange.ca/2180/team/1571. The team consists of Constable Braylon Hyggen, who took the plunge Friday with a four-legged member of the canine unit, along with Inspector Jason Dobirstein, police chief Shahin Mehdizadeh and Mayor Blaine Hyggen.

Online donations will be accepted until March 20.

The City of Lethbridge was represented at the plunge by councillors Jenn Schmidt-Rempel and John Middleton-Hope, the latter who made a splash twice into an unheated hot tub at Arctic Spas Lethbridge.

Constable Hyggen said before the event that COVID-19 has impacted fundraising efforts in the past two years. Provincially, the LETR is hoping to raise $150,000 for the Special Olympics with $54,949 of that goal met so far. Events are staged in five provincial cities.

This was the 11th year for a fundraiser in Lethbridge, said the constable, with the last two being virtual.

“We’ve still been able to get things going and have people jump and still raise money,” said Hyggen, but the ability to raise awareness about the Special Olympics has been hurt because of the absence of public appearances due to COVID.

“We want to raise funds but we also want to raise awareness and let people know what Special Olympics is and what our athletes are capable of doing,” said Hyggen.

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