Looking for proof that a little bravery can make a big difference? This year’s Take The Plunge at Friday Harbour Resort showed exactly what happens when a community comes together for a great cause.
On Saturday, March 7, more than 100 participants stepped into the icy waters of Lake Simcoe to raise funds for the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre Foundation. The annual fundraiser continues to grow, both in participation and impact.
Since launching in 2023, the event has now raised more than $65,000 in support of RVH’s Keep Life Wild campaign.
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A growing event with a growing impact
This year’s plunge was once again hosted by McCully from Rock 95, who helped keep the energy high as participants faced the freezing water.
Take The Plunge has quickly become a winter highlight at Friday Harbour, drawing participants, donors, and spectators from across the region. The event supports the expansion of healthcare services through the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and future development in Innisfil.
Funds raised will help support both RVH’s North Campus expansion in Barrie and the long-planned Innisfil healthcare facility.
The future Innisfil health centre
Plans continue to move forward for a new hospital in Innisfil. In October 2021, RVH announced it had selected an 83-acre property at the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Innisfil Beach Road as the future site.
The project is expected to be developed over approximately 20 years and will eventually become a full-service hospital. Plans include:
- A 24/7 emergency department
- Expanded surgical services
- Cancer and urgent care services
- Hundreds of new inpatient beds
About 10 per cent of RVH patients currently come from Innisfil, highlighting the growing need for healthcare closer to home.
Supporting the Keep Life Wild campaign
Take The Plunge supports RVH’s Keep Life Wild Campaign, a major fundraising effort aimed at expanding the hospital’s capacity to meet the needs of one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions.
The campaign includes plans to nearly double the size of RVH, including a new nine-storey inpatient tower with 240 beds and expanded treatment spaces.
A community effort worth celebrating
Events like Take The Plunge show what’s possible when people rally around local healthcare. From participants willing to brave the cold, to donors and volunteers working behind the scenes, the event continues to demonstrate strong community support for better regional healthcare.
Organizers say they expect the event to continue growing in the years ahead as awareness builds and more residents get involved.
Learn more or support RVH
While this year’s plunge is over, donations to the RVH Foundation can still be made year-round to support ongoing healthcare expansion projects and future community fundraising events.
For many who participated, the freezing temperatures were a small price to pay to help bring better healthcare closer to home.
