CRUZ ROJA

Polar Bear Swim and Raffle

The Polar Bear Swim committee arrived at the Beer Garden Restaurant (unofficial headquarters for the event) a bit before noon on January 1, 2011 in order to prepare for the day's activities.

Our Cruz Roja welcome banner was placed in front of the restaurant by Pancho Deriger (Cruz Roja International Volunteers Chapala President) and Chuck Balnis (Cruz Roja Volunteer), the ambulance arrived with two paramedics and four "juventudes" (young Cruz Roja Volunteers) who were available to collect small change from the crowd, and the Beer Garden Restaurant hostess showed us where we could set up on the terrace to collect pledge monies from the Polar Bears, sell raffle tickets, and encourage our guests to imbibe a bit and enjoy some food.

At about 12:30, most of the Polar Bears had arrived. Rick Prine (our Cruz Roja Volunteer professional photographer) appeared with his camera and equipment ready to begin "shooting the event". Roy Nolan (video documentarian) also arrived with his tripod and video camera ready for the swim.

The Polar Bears were able to change into their bathing costumes as the restaurant allowed us to use their facilities. There were bikinis, goggles and masks, strange head gear, Christmas hats -- the 13 human Polar bears and two dogs who thought they were also Polar Bears were READY!!!

The Polar Bear Swimmers were Wayne Renz, Andreas Ammann, Pedro Kertesz, Pancho Deriger, Charlie Klestadt, Don Marie Fraser, Yvonne Kertesz, Myles Beckley, Alma Niembro, Elaine St. John, Mickie Boudreau, Suzannna Kelly, Beede Satterthwaite, and Lucy Beede's dog.

After the photo-op in front of the Cruz Roja sign, the Polar Bears marched to the lakefront led by Pedro Kertesz who had organized the 1st Annual Polar Bear swim on Jan 1, 2010 when he and his wife Yvonne and Beede Satterthwaite went into the Lake and raised $6,200 pesos for Cruz Roja Chapala.

By this time, a crowd of over 200 people and passersby had gathered to watch the craziness, cheer on the Polar Bears, drink a bit, and await the results of the Grand Raffle to be drawn after "THE SWIM".

At precisely 1 PM on January 1, 2011, the Polar Bears gingerly entered the frozen Lake Chapala. Strange weather conditions had caused chunks of ice to appear in the Lake about the same time. There was a rumor that the ice had been delivered by a local ice company?

The whistle was blown and the Polar Bears and their guests began the countdown for the up-to twenty minute "swim" in the Lake. A cooler appeared in the lake near the swimmers which surprisingly held a bottle of tequila and more than enough shot glasses for the ceremonial kickoff to the "swim". One of the Bears brought a beach ball for some entertainment. A few Bears actually swam around backstroking and floating and bobbing.

Alma Niembro swam almost to the other side of the Lake. Alma won the certificate for the "Challenge Cup" by earning the most pledges for any Real Estate agent entered in the challenge. Charlie Klestadt won the certificate as the individual collecting the most pledge money for the event.

The water was cold, but not as bad as most of the Bears had feared. There were no snakes crawling all over the participants, no one turned radioactive after the event, and the water WAS CLEAN!!!

The countdown continued and the twenty minutes passed quite quickly for most. The familiar New Years 10, 9, 8 ............ YEAHHHHH occurred and the Bears exited the Lake with huge smiles on their faces and an appreciative crowd applauded the participants.

After the quick-change artists got into dry clothes and more raffle tickets were sold by Karen Doyle and Ann Klestadt, the raffle winners were picked at 2 PM. First prize of $20,000 pesos was won by Pia Aitken, second prize of $10,000 pesos was won by Judy Walker, and 3rd prize of $5,000 pesos was won by Brian W.. Unfortunately, none of those winners were in attendance; but some of their friends were there and cheers went up anyway.

The cameras were all put away, the ambulance and paramedics departed without having to administer first aid to any of the Polar Bears, the cameras were turned off, and the crowd began to leave at about 2:30 PM.

Great news for the Chapala Cruz Roja Delegation: Over $60,000 pesos was collected by the Polar Bears as pledge monies and the raffle earned $145,000 pesos bringing the total earnings to over $200,000 pesos.

Thank you to all the Polar Bears" who participated in the Second Annual Polar Bear Swim, to all the Volunteers who planned the event, and to all in the community who supported the event by purchasing raffle tickets and sponsoring their "favorite bear"!!