SEASIDE HEIGHTS – There isn’t anything quite like a dip into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean on a winter afternoon and thousands of people came out again to do just that for this year’s Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights presented by New Jersey Law Enforcement.
The effort is part of the year-round fundraising of Law Enforcement Torch Run events and involves individuals, organizations, and businesses who support Special Olympics New Jersey athletes by jumping into the ocean. Registration started at 9 a.m. and parking started to dwindle around the borough especially around Blaine Avenue where the registration area was.
By 12:30 p.m. the boardwalk was crowded with thousands of spectators, many of them were bundled up. Plungers carried towels and other items as they headed towards the entry point of the beach at 315 Boardwalk. The 1 p.m. whistle alerted them it was time to hit the water on the main beach between Webster and Dupont Avenues.
Plungers had to individually raise a $110 minimum to a $125 minimum depending on when you registered to participate rated. You could be an “Early Bear,” “Now I’m Ready Bear” or an “Almost Missed It Bear.”
Those registered picked up their perk items of hoodies or sweatshirts and there was other merchandise you can buy.
Approximately 7,500 people made up of around 570 teams plunged into the icy surf raising more than a combined $2.5 million to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey. Including spectators, around 65,000 people came out to boardwalk.
One plunge team from Bloomfield who have a house in Ocean Beach III made a terrible discovery while walking on Hancock Avenue to reach the beach for the plunge – they had no towels. They’ve been plunging for 10 years now. “We are a two-member team, the Frozen Frascatis,” said Robert John Frascati, who plunged with his son Rob Frascati.
The support team was made up of Jessica Leone and Joni Frascati. “We forgot the towels but we did remember the beer,” Leone said.
“We’ve been jumping in the ocean for years now. It’s good for the soul, it feels good,” Rob Frascati said.
His father added, “We have a special needs child in our family. My nephew is autistic so it is a good cause.”
“It will be a cold day for these guys,” Leone added noting the lack of towels and their robes.
Some simply wore bathing suits; others came in costumes to bring attention to themselves and to make the occasion just a bit more fun and entertaining. There was a team of Vikings and chickens.
Among the many returning polar plunge teams were the New Jersey Knights of Columbus Penguins whose goal was to reach $70,000. The Bayshore Shrinky Dinks were back and they sought to reach a donation total of $75,000.
The 2nd Avenue Freeze-Out Team had the ambitious goal of getting $100,000 in donations and had reached over $85,000 by February 19.
Lacey resident Diana Scioscia MacKenzie is a veteran plunger. “It has been 16 years of plunging for my team, Polar Pride. We are freezing for a reason and we started in 2010 when I was the principal of the Waretown Elementary School. We started with a team of three and at one point we grew to a team of 15.”
“This year our team is made up of five members, four of which have plunged with me in the past. One is a former staff member from my school, one is a friend who was a police dispatcher for 25 years, another friend who has been plunging with us for years and a family member of my colleague,” she added.
The Polar Bear Plunge wouldn’t be the same without the official “Polar Bear” mascot portrayed by Joe Sarnoski, a retired police captain from Lyndhurst, who once again served as the event’s mascot joining teams on the beach before their plunge into the ocean. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
She said another plunger who is a teacher and who registered as a single, “asked to join our team and of course I said yes.” That made six members. “We have raised $72,605 since we started.”
Bob Woods of Edison Township dressed up as a pirate this year. He provided a tip to those plunging for the first time stating, “I’ve done this for 20 years, don’t go in a little at a time just run in all at once. Also, wear water shoes and protect your feet.”
The event wouldn’t be the same without the official “Polar Bear” of the plunge portrayed by Joe Sarnoski, a retired police captain from Lyndhurst, who once again served as the event’s mascot.
He cheered people on in his polar bear costume and had his photo taken with many plungers and attendees before, after and even during the plunge.
Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz told Jersey Shore Online.com that the borough loves to support charitable events such as the recently held Cupid Chase 5K, Cupid Undie Run and of course the NJ Polar Bear Plunge is the big one. “We do a lot more security too, being precautionary and proactive. They are all good events for good causes and people within our state and out of state contribute and it goes toward good things that are happening.”
“These are all charity events and we vet them and find out what they are all about as we don’t want to take any chances,” he added.
Seaside Heights has hosted the event for many years. New Jersey 101.5 is another long-time sponsor along with the New Jersey State PBA and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey.
This marked the 32nd year for the huge fundraiser which has a number of regular sponsors like Wawa whose workers served up free hot coffee and hot chocolate to one and all.
For over 55 years, Special Olympics New Jersey has provided year-round sports training and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type sports for thousands of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, completely free of charge.
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