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Annual Polar Bear Plunge set for Sunday in Rehoboth Beach

Special Olympics Delaware
The 27th annual Special Olympics Delaware Polar Bear Plunge is this weekend in Rehoboth Beach.

Special Olympics Delaware annual Polar Bear Plunge takes place this weekend in Rehoboth Beach.

 

The Plunge is in its 27th year -- and Special Olympics Media Relations Director Jon Buzby says thousands are set to take a chilly dip into the Atlantic Sunday.

"We’re hoping to have nearly 4,000 people jump into the ocean for Special Olympics Delaware, which is the organization that provides sports training and competition for more than 4,200 athletes year round in 19 sports across the State. This event has become one of Delaware’s largest fundraisers; it IS Special Olympics largest fundraiser. In fact last year, we went over the $10 million mark,” Buzby said.

Buzby says last year, 3,602 participants raised more than $900,000.

In addition to the actual plunge Sunday afternoon at 1, there’s a variety of activities Saturday, including a sand-sculpting competition from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the beach south of Rehoboth Avenue and more.

 

“We have a fantastic weekend planned of events. Starting on Saturday we have a 5K run, we have a Fire and Ice Festival with wings and ice cream, we have a chili tasting contest...And so we’ve tried to make it a weekend-long event,” Buzby said.

Anyone participating in Sunday’s plunge can get special discounts at area restaurants and retailers throughout the weekend.

 

 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.