The Armadale Police Rangers were freezin’ for a reason last Wednesday when they jumped into the pool at the Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre in full uniform.
The 29 cadets, flanked by their instructors, took the ‘polar plunge’ at dusk to help fund the way to the Special Olympics for people with intellectual disability or autism.
This was the third time the rangers had participated in the Australia-Oceania Polar Plunge, which is the major fundraising drive of the Law Enforcement Torch Relay.
The Armadale unit collectively raised more than $3000, with proceeds going towards helping provide year-round sports training and competition for athletes.
Unit Leader Ben Boekholt said the team enjoyed their ‘unexpectedly warm’ dip, and felt privileged to have some high-ranking police officers join them in this year’s venture.
The torch travelled from Armadale to Hillarys Boat Ramp on Saturday where officers from all over Perth jumped into the icy waters.
The $35,000 fundraising goal was almost doubled, with $61,050 raised so far from Perth.
The Law Enforcement Torch Relay began in 1981 in Wichita, Kansas, and has since spread all over the globe.
It is now the largest public awareness vehicle and grass-roots fundraiser for Special Olympics and has raised over $600 million since its inception.
Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the ‘Flame of Hope’ into opening ceremonies of local, state, provincial, national, regional and World Games.
Over 97,000 people carry the ‘Flame of Hope’ annually.
The Armadale Police Rangers is run at Cecil Andrews College for any interested children between the ages of 12 and 18. With funding is made available through Cadets WA, it doesn’t cost anything to become a ranger.
Photographs – Richard Polden
