Thousands take the plunge in Long Beach Polar Bear Splash

“People come together from all over New York and Long Island, there’s a lot of camaraderie among people who don’t even know each other,” said Valley Stream resident John Ballner, 47, of the annual Long Beach Polar Bear Splash.

Ballner, who was accompanied by his daughter, Sara, 14, said that they both took the icy plunge in the Atlantic for a good cause — one that continues to unite communities all across Long Island.      

“It was cold, it was a rush,” said Sara, “I ran in, it was fun. We’re going to do it again next year.”

The Ballner’s were two of thousands who raced into the ocean at Riverside Boulevard at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday in the 13th annual Splash, which, once again, raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The event honors Paulie Bradley of Island Park, who died of cancer at age 4 in 1997. An estimated 6,000 participants went into the water, while overall, more than 15,000 people attended the event. As of press time, more than $250,000 had been raised online, and $150,000 had been collected on the beach on Sunday in cash and checks — totaling nearly $400,000 in donations.

Since its inception, the Polar Bear Splash has raised more than $2 million and helped make hundreds of wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Last year, approximately 5,000 people braved the ice-cold Atlantic and raised more than $550,000.