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Maryland Polar Bear Plunge: A charity event gone wild
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From the pages of this week's PressBox magazine, a short piece I wrote on one of the most interesting charity events in the area.
By the thousands they will gather on the shores of the Chesapeake, ready to make that faithful run. Some call them mad and others downright insane, but all the critics must tip their caps.
Almost every participant that makes the short trip from shore to shock for the 13th annual Polar Bear Plunge on Jan 24 at Sandy Point Beach would probably admit that they are a bit crazy. To jump into sub zero waters for charity isn’t the sanest way to help others, but if this event is crazy we should all be so nuts.
It has become a spectacle like no other. An army of plungers line the beaches at Sandy point ready to attack the mighty Chesapeake like it owes them money. And they always win.
That money goes straight to the Special Olympics Maryland, the state’s largest year-round organization devoted to sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Plungapalooza ’09 is already well over a million dollars in total donations and shows no signs of stopping. It is an event that has t ruly taken on a life of its own with pig races, live music, games and prizes, a costume contest and even a Little Miss Polar Bear Plunge pageant.
But one thing remains as the Plunge’s biggest draw—anyone can participate. As long as you sign up and find some folks who want to give to a worthy cause, you’re in.
With just $50 in pledges, Plungers automatically get the official Polar Bear Plunge Sweatshirt, a complimentary lunch, a photo gift, and bragging rights over all the people who couldn't bear it.
Even Governor Martin O’Malley will be returning again this year to help lead more than 10,000 people into the Bay.
For more information visit www.plungemd.com or dial 410-789-6677.
