Though Chilly, Taking the Plunge was A Worthwhile Endeavor

Though the plunge gains massive media attention annually, this year’s event was especially noteworthy since organizers advertised it as an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “most polar bear plungers in one 24-hour period.” The fundraising goal for the event was $2.5 million.

I had always been curious about the plunge. Every year, I watched news coverage of the event and was shocked by the huge turnout. I wondered why in the world would people be so willing to run into ice-cold water in the dead of winter?

Here’s why I eventually decided to go for it. The “Polar Bear Plunge” is a great fundraiser. The money goes to a good cause that might very well be ignored due to competition from so many other worthy charities. I was especially proud to contribute to a charity that supports people with disabilities.

I was pleased to see how the “Polar Bear Plunge” brought so many people together for the cause. Walking around the park, I spied local high school students and members of a college fraternity who drove six hours to participate. Banks and businesses gave large donations, too.

Besides the plunge itself, the event includes great entertainment, food vendors, carnival games and even a chainsaw sculptor. Many people wore costumes — including one person dressed as Optimus Prime from the “Transformer” movies — people on stilts, aliens and drag queens.

A major draw was the music. As bands performed, some spectators tested their hula hooping skills while others enjoyed food and drink in the large, heated tent where another band performed covers by acts like Good Charlotte and blink-182. The music helped energize people for the main event — the plunge.

Once the plungers changed into swimsuits, we all waited outside, packed together on the beach as we sang the national anthem. Overhead, I saw drones filming us, scanning the packed beach and the volunteers out in the bay, making sure no one ran out too far. Even further back was a news helicopter waiting for the moment when we all jumped in.

I recalled my first plunge, and how the cold water of the Chesapeake woke me up instantly. My body was pumping with energy and strength that gave me the push I needed to run through the water. I was in over my waist, as I shook hands with the volunteers waiting further out in the bay. I dunked my head under on the way back, running fast and feeling incredible. It felt so great, I decided to plunge again only two hours later.

This year’s plunge had the same rush to it. Though we didn’t break the Guinness World Record — it is still held by the city of Mielno, Poland — the Special Olympics managed to go beyond their donation goal, raising over $2,550,000 to date.

Jordan Loux is a Baltimore-based freelance writer.