Local officials have announced that caring town residents will once again have the opportunity to be “Freezin’ for a Reason” and support Special Olympics New York by participating in one of several Polar Plunges in the coming weeks.
The 14th Annual Town of North Hempstead Polar Plunge will take place at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington on Saturday, March 3. Registration is open from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and the plunge is at noon.
The Fifth Annual Town of Oyster Bay Polar Plunge will take place on Saturday, March 10, at Tobay Beach. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. and the plunge begins at 11:30 a.m.
The Second Annual Splish Spalsh Polar Plunge will take place on Saturday, April 14, at Splish Splash Water Park, 2549 Splish Splash Dr., Calverton. Registration is open from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and the plunge is at noon.
Brave souls with warm hearts will run, jump, and dive into chilly waters to raise funds for the athletes of Special Olympics New York. All funds support Special Olympics New York’s programs and promote awareness of people living with intellectual disabilities in New York.
Each year, Special Olympics Polar Plunges are held throughout the country to attract thousands of chilled souls to engage in a commendable and thrilling fundraising event. Last year, more than 6,000 plungers and 15,000 spectators were part of the plunge season raising nearly $1 million statewide.
These plunge events will help to provide year-round sports training and competition in more than 22 Olympic-style sports for more than 68,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities living in New York, giving them continuing opportunities at no cost to them or their families. Their philosophy is “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt!”
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, who participated in last year’s event, stated, “Many of our residents are used to seeing beautiful Tobay Beach in the middle of the summer, but this event provides an enjoyable and charitable reason to begin the beach season early this year! Participants will have an opportunity to prove their mettle and their compassion by diving into the chilly waters of Tobay Beach to raise funds for the athletes of Special Olympics New York.”
Councilman Louis Imbroto, who also took the plunge at last year’s event, stated, “Special Olympics New York changes lives through the joy of sports and the Town of Oyster Bay is proud to partner with this outstanding organization to help make this event a success.”
Plungers should be sure to bring shoes that can get wet and if they want to capture the moment they hit the cold water, they should bring a waterproof camera as well. For more information, visit events.nyso.org.
In addition, Town of Oyster Bay will hold the 14th Annual Polar Bear Plunge on Sunday, March 18, to benefit the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County (CP Nassau).
The highly-anticipated benefit fundraiser features hearty and caring participants, affectionately known as “Polar Bears,” taking the plunge in the chilly waters of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, Beach and Marina in Oyster Bay. The festivities kick off at 1 p.m. with the polar bears taking the plunge at 2 p.m.
The day’s festivities will include music, complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, tea, hot dogs, soup from local Oyster Bay establishments, raffles and other surprises. An indoor assembly area will also be available for the event, which will be held rain, snow or shine. The day’s proceedings will benefit the more than 1,500 children and adults with disabilities who participate in programs and receive services through CP Nassau, which has been assisting individuals with disabilities since 1948.
Councilwoman Michele Johnson stated, “This great program features brave souls taking the plunge into Oyster Bay Harbor to raise money for CP Nassau and its many outstanding programs and services. I invite all young people, families and senior citizens to join us on March 18.”
For more information, visit cpnassau2018polarbearplunge.kintera.org or call 516-377-2064.
An independent, nonprofit health agency, CP Nassau, has endeavored to improve the quality of life for people with cerebral palsy and others with developmental disabilities and multiple service needs. The organization also seeks to prevent cerebral palsy and minimize its effects. Visit www.cpnassau.org for more information.
