Lewes Polar Bear Plunge sets record in Rehoboth
The 2015 Lewes Polar Bear Plunge broke records again this year, raising $780,000 to benefit the Delaware Special Olympics.
Spanning all demographics, plungers arrived on the the beach Feb. 1 dressed in layers and armed with extra blankets, only to shed down to a bathing suit or a festive costume at plunge time. The air was 41 degrees and the water a frigid 37 degrees.
A staggering 3,325 people were undeterred by the cold, crowding a broad stretch of Rehoboth Beach.
Spirits were high in the minutes leading up to the plunge. The crowd literally shivered with anticipation as the emcee set the tone with “Cold As Ice” and “Comfortably Numb.” State police in wet suits stood chest-deep in the water to protect plungers, and numerous rescue boats were at the ready. The crowd was all smiles, and a sense of community camaraderie was palpable.
Karole Bennett, 16, was attending for the first time with fellow Middletown High School Honor Society students. She was glad to be having fun promoting a good cause and, of the crowd, said “I think these people are amazing. And crazy!” Bennett hoped to venture in up to her neck.
Stand-out plungers Larry Evans, 38, of Milford, Ariel Heath, 22, of Hagerstown, Md., and Robb Dunne, 36, of Ocean City, Md., were dressed in brightly colored body suits, funky hats, and tutus.
“You gotta stand out down here!” Dunne said. And their plans after plunging? “Hit up the Outback and go get tattoos.”
At precisely 1 p.m., the crowd let out a rallying cry and rushed into the Atlantic. The scene turned chaotic as people ran out of water to the comfort of towels and blankets, giddy from the shock of cold water. Some even went back for a second dip, to play in the surf or to pose for photos.
Stephanie Hartsoe, 32, of Lewes, plunged for the 11th time. She started attending with friends from Wesley College and had so much fun she’s still plunging.
Fresh out of the water, Hartsoe, grinning, said, “I love it! I feel refreshed and ready to seize the day!”
The Grizzly Plungers member Ernie Smith, 29, of New Castle, dove in and paddled out, all while managing to keep his Indiana Jones hat on his head. “Our group has a beard prerequisite,” Smith said, “Even for the females.” The Grizzly Plungers were drying off to “find somewhere to eat, drink, and watch the Super Bowl.”
An undeniable success, the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge, sponsored by Wawa, has become Delaware Special Olympics' most significant and successful fundraiser. Moved to Rehoboth in 1998 after a nor'easter damaged its original home in Cape Henlopen State Park, the event has grown in recent years to span the entire weekend and include a 5K, a chili cook-off, and a Pooch Plunge. The Polar Bear Plunge is set to be one of the beach area’s favorite winter events for years to come.
