Polar Bear Plunge draws thousands to beaches

The News Journal

Rain held off until the last minute as thousands of participants took the plunge into the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, at the Lewes Polar Plunge in Rehoboth Beach. The annual event raises money for Delaware Special Olympics.

Thousands of participants took a frigid dip in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday afternoon for the annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge, an annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Delaware.

A total of 3,383 “polar bears” dipped into the water to raise $875,000, according to Jon Buzby, director of media relations for Special Olympics Delaware. Buzby added that over the years, the event has raised nearly $11 million.

Those taking this year's Plunge headed into the water at 1 p.m. Sunday, with water temperature at 37 degrees and air temperature at 47 degrees.

With the Philadelphia Eagles facing off against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl just hours after the plunge, the Eagles' fandom brimmed over at the plunge. The Polar Bear mascot came dressed in a Philadelphia Eagles jersey, an Eagles logo ice sculpture made the scene and, at an event known for outlandish costumes, it was easy to spot participants in plenty of green-and-white gear and underdog masks.

Related events also ran Saturday, including sand sculpting on the beach, a chili contest, hot wings and ice cream sampling, a 5K and more.

The first year, just 78 people participated, and raised about $7,000. Fast-forward to 2017, when the event hit a high: $900,000 raised with 3,602 people plunging.