Many lobster fishermen are taking a dip in the freezing ocean for a good cause.
The Live Well Challenge has gone viral, featuring fishermen jumping into their live wells or directly into their harbours.
Each participant challenges another captain and crew to take the plunge and donate money to a worthy cause.
Cape Sable Island fisherman Todd Newell says he came up with the idea on earlier this month to help raise money for the families of the Pubnico house fire victims.
He says it started with a challenge to a few good friends.
“They in turn challenged a couple guys, and they had to do it and it’s taken off from there. I’m not surprised, maybe with how fast it’s gathered momentum, that’s surprising. I never knew you could reach this many people so fast.”
Newell says his goal is to have 100 people take the challenge, each donating $1,000.
“I’m confident we’ll reach that goal within a short time.”
As of Saturday, he says about $40,000 had been raised.
He says money is going to the Pubnico families, the Carmen Faith Memorial Fund and many other charities.
Newell says he took the challenge in honour of his late father, who passed away after a short battle with cancer last year.
He says he wanted to make his family proud.
