Dufferin OPP officer fundraising for local food programs with polar plunge

Police officers from the Dufferin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) participate in fundraising initiatives every year to support local not-for-profits in the community.

Detective Sergeant Steve Coburn, Ontario Provincial Police Forensic Interview Team member, is set to face his biggest personal challenge yet – to swim an official Ice Mile. Considered “one of the toughest swims on the planet” an Ice Mile, governed by the International Ice Swimming Association rules, is a one-mile swim in water temperature measuring five degrees Celsius or less –no wetsuit permitted. 

Steve Coburn is not doing it for personal accolades though, but rather to bring financial support to food programs in Dufferin County, which is also the community he calls home.

Steve is the founder of Compass Run for Food, an annual run dedicated to raising money for established food programs in Dufferin County. To date the race has raised and donated over $390,000 to local food banks and school nutrition programs. This year, Steve has challenged himself to raise $10,000 in support of Compass Run for Food.

“I'm asking for your support to help me stay in the water and keep swimming to raise the much-needed funding to support our food programs in Dufferin County,” said Sgt. Steve Coburn. “Every pledge in support of my swim is donated directly to established food programs in Dufferin County, including food banks and school nutrition programs, through Compass Run for Food.”

If you would like to help Steve reach his goal, you can make your pledge on his fundraising page at https://raceroster.com/events/2023/72092/compass-run-for-food/pledge/participant/18861405.

Every pledge goes directly to fighting food insecurity in Dufferin County and will encourage Steve to stay in the water and swim for the Compass Run for Food. 

The swim will take place in early April 2023, weather, and water temperature dependent.

The official date will be announced by Dufferin OPP shortly.