N.S. fisherman issues chilly challenge to raise money for families of fire victims

A southwest Nova Scotia fisherman has taken theice bucket challenge and upped the ante to raise funds for victims of a horrific fire earlierthis month in PubnicoHead, N.S.

Instead of emptying a bucket of cold water over your head, Todd Newell's challenge involves immersing your entire body in icy water. Specifically, numbingly coldwater found in the lobster holding tank of his fishing boat, Ted's Legacy.

"Take a dip, make a difference," says theWest Headman.

It's a community of tough people, he says, adding his late father, for whom his boat is named, was the toughest man he ever knew.

"I had an idea:I'll put a challenge out. I know the men of this community they're not scared of any challenge. I decided to donate $1,000, jump in the well.I figured it would take off," Newell said.

"I challenged a couple of good friends of mine. They challenged a few friends and it's kind of escalated from there."

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So far, the challenge has raised $15,000. That figure rose to $16,000 when Newell volunteered to chip in an extra $1,000 ifCBCNews reporter Colleen Jones took the challenge while covering the story. She took the dare and plunged into the lobster hold, where the water was three degrees.

"I thought it would be fitting for the community. It's a fishing community," he said.

A funeral for two of the four children who died in the fire, Winstonand Jayla,is being held Tuesday at the Yarmouth Wesleyan Church, and the funeral for a third young victim, Mason, will be on Monday at the same church. A service for thefourth victim, Mya, will take place on Sunday atH.M. Huskilson's Memorial Chapel inBarrington.

Winston and Jayla'smother, Emma Kennedy, and Winston and Mya's father, Phil Prouty, escaped the fire. Prouty, a lobster fisherman, was seriously injured and hospitalized.

The provincial fire marshal's office continues to investigate the fire and has no information yet to release about the cause, said a spokesperson for the Municipal Affairs Department.

The money from the challengeis going to the families of the Pubnico fire victims and also toa memorial fund for Carmen Huskilson, a young girl in the community who died in 2016.

"Her parents wanted a 'pay it forward'fund set up with the proceeds donated to worthy causes," Newell said.