"Thousands of people are expected to join the Coney Island Polar Bear Club for their annual New Year's Day swim in the frigid Atlantic Ocean. The event is free and open to the public, and swimmers can sign up online through New Year's Eve or in-person on New Year's Day, but advance sign-up and donations of at least $30 are encouraged. While supplies last, participants who raise more than $50 will receive a limited-edition Polar Bear Plunge beanie."
""The Plunge is more than a tradition; it's a lifeline," said Cindy Vourderis, public relations manager for the Alliance for Coney Island, in a statement. "Every dollar raised helps support things like free public programming, youth education, job training, and other initiatives that keep Coney Island thriving. We depend on the generosity of our plungers to make this impact possible.""
"The Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge has been a beloved local tradition since 1903. While the Polar Bears plunge year-round, most of their events are closed to the public, and the New Year's Day swim is the only time New Yorkers can join them. Though the weather in recent years has been warmer-than-average, ocean temps usually hover around 40 degrees Fahrenheit - well below the temperature usually considered comfortable for a dip in the sea."
Registration is open for the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge New Year's Day swim, with online sign-up through New Year's Eve or in-person registration on New Year's Day. The event is free and open to the public, though advance sign-up and donations of at least $30 are encouraged. Participants who raise more than $50 receive a limited-edition Polar Bear Plunge beanie while supplies last. Money raised is donated to local nonprofits; last year the event raised $60,000 for seven groups, including the New York Aquarium, Coney Island USA, and the Coney Island library. Ocean temperatures usually hover around 40°F, and thousands of swimmers often arrive in costumes.
Read at Brooklyn Paper
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