Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights This Weekend

polar plunge special olympics

Largest Fundraising Event of the Year for Special Olympics New Jersey

On Saturday, February 23, 2019, an anticipated 7,000 people will brave the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean, participating in the annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights, all to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics New Jersey.

Saturday’s Plunge is expected to raise more than $2 million and will take place on the beach between Blaine Avenue and Sumner Avenue, directly in front of Spicy Cantina (500 Boardwalk). Street closures in the area will be in effect until early afternoon.

At 1:00 p.m., all those who have raised the plunge minimum will make their way into the Atlantic, where the water temperature is expected to be in the mid 30s and the air temperature is forecasted to be a high of 42.

Many of the event participants have gone above and beyond the plunge minimum, and as of Wednesday afternoon, February 20th, the highest individual fundraiser is Scott Paterson, who has raised $24,762.

The highest fundraising team is the Little Silver Crocs, led by team captain Mike Laverty, who have raised more than over $73,000 and still counting. Assuming the team continues their fundraising efforts at this pace, this will be the 16th year in a row that the Little Silver Crocs will earn the highest team fundraiser title.

The Seaside Plunge is organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey, the largest grass-roots fundraising organization for Special Olympics New Jersey. Other notable supporters include the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, NJ 101.5 and News 12 New Jersey.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run hosts many fundraising events for Special Olympics New Jersey throughout the year, including two other Polar Bear Plunges, the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5k, Statue of Liberty 5k, Plane Pull, Great Coaster Race, and multiple golf outings, all of which helped to raise more than $4 million in the last year.

Walk-up Plunge registrants are welcome and encouraged to arrive early due to the heavy traffic. Registration opens at 9:00 am and the walk-up registration fee is $125. Spectators are also welcome, and parking will be available in the area. Wawa, the official coffee supplier of the Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside, will be onsite with their mobile truck to provide FREE coffee and hot chocolate.

To learn more about the annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights visit www.PlungeSeaside.org.


ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW JERSEY:
For the past 50 years, Special Olympics New Jersey has provided year-round sports training and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type sports for more than 25,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, completely free of charge, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Visit www.sonj.org for more information.


ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN:
The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is part of an international campaign for Special Olympics coordinated and managed by all divisions of Law Enforcement officers and officials from throughout the world whose mission is to raise dollars and awareness of the Special Olympics movement worldwide. The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey has been recognized for many years as one of the top grassroots fundraising organizations for Special Olympics worldwide. In 2018, the LETR for Special Olympics New Jersey raised more than $4.0 million.

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