It was quite the birthday for Susan Eaton earlier this month.

Being as sick as she was, EatonSA国际影视传媒檚 own doctor wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 too sure about taking a plunge into ice cold water.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was just on deathSA国际影视传媒檚 door when I went in,SA国际影视传媒� said Eaton, explaining she couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 so much as let out a yelp when she made her splash.

As it turns out, there are many like Eaton. Maybe not when it comes to being sick, but certainly when it comes to the desire to get into some seriously cold water.

Easton, alongside a team of women from Yellowknife, took part in the Royal Canadian Geographical SocietySA国际影视传媒檚 third annual Polar Plunge Charity Event on March 4. It was all to raise funds in support of Canadian GeographicSA国际影视传媒檚 Explore podcast.

Eaton, who helped organize the Yellowknife event at Arctic Duchess Adventures, is a Yellowknife-based scientist, journalist, and polar explorer. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 no stranger to diving deep into cold waters, albeit ones that arenSA国际影视传媒檛 as cold as Great Slave Lake. Never mind that the temperature that day was around -37 C.

Eaton also leads teams of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women to the Arctic to scout, record, and document ocean change.

And for the plunge, she wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 alone either. In fact, plungers signed up across Canada.

SA国际影视传媒�(A total of) 44 groups of people were jumping in cold water and celebrating winter, which is quintessentially Canadian,SA国际影视传媒� Eaton explained. SA国际影视传媒淎nd in the Northwest Territories here, we have a very long winter to celebrate.SA国际影视传媒�

The target goal for Canadian GeographicSA国际影视传媒檚 fundraiser, according to their website, is $35,000. As of press time Thursday, that total had reached nearly $51,000. Yellowknife sat third in terms of funds raised by community.

Rosemary Thompson is vice-president of Canadian Geographic. With a Canadian Geographic flag in hand and flying in the air over Meech Lake in Gatineau, Que., she said she felt pure joy.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e never done this before,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou just have to take your fear in hand and go for it.SA国际影视传媒�

The rush of the cold can be a bit of an addicting feeling SA国际影视传媒� Thompson said she went back for a second and a third dip in the lake.

SA国际影视传媒淚 came out and I was just tingling. It felt like my body was sparkling.SA国际影视传媒�

When asked about how much theySA国际影视传媒檝e raised so far, Thompson had nothing but positives to say.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 our third year, so weSA国际影视传媒檙e very heartened to see that engagement with people that believe in what we do.SA国际影视传媒�

Thompson added it takes a while to convince people to jump in the water in the winter. But year over year, itSA国际影视传媒檚 grown in popularity.

Considering the Polar Plunge was made during COVID, Thompson also speculated that being outside and doing something as adventurous as the plunge gives an added feeling of freedom, juxtaposed to times before.

SA国际影视传媒淭o feel that you can be outside and do something wonderful, do something for your country. It just feels good right now. I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 part of the recovery from COVID.SA国际影视传媒�

As for Eaton, she said she is feeling much better after the plunge.

She joked that every donation is a birthday present. And for future fundraisers, she said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 hoping to get a little more organized.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think next year, we probably want to have a larger team,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut, you know, sometimes something that is just organic is fun too. We just had a lot of fun.SA国际影视传媒�