Coney Island Takes The Plunge!

New Year’s Day 2015 is less than a month away! So we’re mentally preparing ourselves to join the thousands in taking part in the annual New Year’s Coney Island Polar Dip! Frigid ice water plunging has really become fashionable since fitness guru Bernarr Mac Fadden prescribed it over a century ago. Sounds crazy? Well Mr. Mac Fadden also believed that fasting was good for your health! That’s probably what killed him. He stopped eating!

Once again this year the Freezin’ for a Reason event will be raising money for Camp Sunshine. Camp Sunshine, located in beautiful Casco, Maine offers sick children a retreat for them and their families. Camp Sunshine is the only program in the nation that assists every member of the child’s immediate family. So we ask for you to bring your heart along side your courage to Coney Island on New Year’s Day. Let’s aim to raise over $50,000 so we can send 25 families to Camp Sunshine in 2015.

According to the Long Island Exchange website participants are asked to arrive early for the 1 p.m. event (registration begins at 10 a.m.) and to assemble on the boardwalk at Stillwell Avenue. Plungers are encouraged to bring warm clothes, surf boots or old sneakers, and towels. The NYC Parks Department is providing changing facilities.

Participants can avoid long lines on New Year’s Day by registering online as soon as possible and making a minimum $20 donation to trigger express registration and entry into the earliest PLUNGE wave.

In addition, plungers who raise $100 or more will receive a highly coveted long sleeve Freezin’ for a Reason “I DID IT” event shirt. Participants over 21 years old also will receive a limited edition “The Plunge” pint glass, complements of Coney Island Brewing Company, and an invitation to an exclusive after party with the Coney Island Polar Bear Club at Peggy O’Neill’s Bar and Restaurant.

The Coney Island Polar Dip is again partnering with CrowdRise, a popular online fundraising platform, to make it easier for the entire community to unite, support and fundraise for Camp Sunshine. To start raising funds, form or join a team, and donate online, visit http://www.freezinforareason.com. For more information, call (207) 655-3800.

The Coney Island Polar Bear Club has made us proud since we first documented them back in the 1980’s. We remember their headquarters under the boardwalk near Stillwell. After numerous plunges we were awarded an honorary membership card by their late great leader Alexander Mottola. We proudly carry it (with official pin) in our robe pockets every New Year’s Day!

See you at Coney Island on January 1, 2015!

Pass the sunblock!