Chilly plunge raises cancer awareness

A handful of brave souls plunged into Lake Okanagan Sunday afternoon to raise cancer awareness on behalf of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Local members of the Order, associated with the Freemasons, gather every month to package dressings for local cancer patients.

They volunteer their time and fundraise in order to purchase all the components of the dressings.

And for the third year in the row, several costumed members took part in the Big Chill Polar Dip in Lake Okanagan to raise awareness to their work.

While the brief dip felt worse than a long cold shower for first-time polar dipper Chelsea Wallach, she says she will be back.

"It's an excellent cause, the Eastern Star is very involved in making sure cancer dressings are made, and i think its awesome. I'll be back, anything I can do to raise the awareness," says Wallach.

The Order says it hopes to expand the Big Chill next year to include local businesses.