Share: 

VIDEO: Record day for Lewes Polar Bear Plunge

More than 3,600 participants brave icy ocean water
Polar Bear Plunge participants make a mad dash into the chilly Atlantic Ocean waters. BY RON MACARTHUR
Ron MacArthur
February 5, 2012
Yellow Man and Blue Man contemplate their upcoming dip into the icy ocean water. BY RON MACARTHUR
The crowd is anxious to get into the water and get back into warm clothes. BY RON MACARTHUR
The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is packed to overflowing before the start of the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge. BY RON MACARTHUR
The cold water doesn't seem to bother Wendy Jean Matlack of Newark as she stands in the water to wave a polar bear flag. She has done the plunge 11 times. BY RON MACARTHUR
Carlos Prugue, left, and Peter Pizzolongo of Washington, D.C., emerge from the icy Atlantic Ocean after taking a brief dip. BY RON MACARTHUR
It's a mad dash during the 21st annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge. BY RON MACARTHUR
Emily Kazaba of Wilmington has done the plunge 10 times. BY RON MACARTHUR
Melissa DiPalma shows off what team she is rooting for in the Super Bowl before she takes the plunge. BY RON MACARTHUR
Members of the Exceptional Care for Children team are ready to plunge. They are (l-r) Holly Webb, Linda Pelly, Sally Johnson and Shannon Layden. BY RON MACARTHUR
Miss Delaware High School Kaitilin Repella of New Castle, left, poses with Giants' fan Cullen Beaudin of Georgetown before the plunge. BY RON MACARTHUR

Records were set Feb. 5 as 3,685 participants took an icy dip into the Atlantic Ocean to help raise more than $650,000 to benefit Special Olympics Delaware during the 21st annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge. Both numbers are records, topping the most ever-raised by $100,000 and the most participants by nearly 600. Held in Reboboth Beach, the event also featured a 5K run/walk with 700 participants, an ice-sculpting contest, chili cooking contest and the Polar Bear Cake-Off.

“It was another remarkable year, which goes to show you the support the community has for the 3,500 Special Olympics athletes in Delaware,” said Jon Buzby, spokesman for Special Olympics Delaware.

With the ocean temperature a “balmy” 47 degrees, Buzby said the 2012 plunge was the warmest on record; the water was warmer than the air temperature at 42 degrees.

Last year's water temperature was 35 degrees, and the coldest plunge on record was 28 degrees in 1995; that year, the air temperature was zero with a wind chill of -20 degrees.

Over the past 21 years, more than $6.15 million has been raised at the event.

Most Popular

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter

Most Popular