Long Beach Polar Bear Splash a go

What you need to know for the big dip benefitting Make-A-Wish

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The 17th annual Long Beach Polar Bears Super Bowl Splash — in which thousands of people gather to dash into the near-freezing ocean — is set for Sunday, Feb. 7. The swimmers are prompted to begin arriving at Riverside Beach at 12:30 p.m. for the ocean plunge at 1:30 p.m.

The Long Beach Polar Bears have raised more than $4.8 million for Make-A-Wish Metro New York since the first plunge in 2000. Last year’s event hosted more than 10,000 daredevils, raising $528,000 to go toward granting wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.

With Sunday’s forecast calling for temperatures in the 50s, Polar Bears co-founder Kevin McCarthy said that organizers are expecting an above average turnout this year.

“It’s going to be a big year weather-wise,” said McCarthy, who added that the event typically attracts an average of 7,000 participants each year. “The weather is going to be so beautiful and everyone is going to come out. And the event just gets bigger and bigger each year — in 2012, when we had no boardwalk, it seemed like our biggest year.”

Long Island residents, former wish kids and Make-A-Wish volunteers and staff are already signed up to endure the cold.

“I am very excited to participate in another Long Beach Polar Bears Super Bowl Splash with my family, friends and community,” said City Council Vice President Anthony Eramo.  “The event is a testament to what is best about Long Beach, the people.”

The first unofficial jump into the icy waters took place in 1998, when event co-founders Pete Meyers and McCarthy decided to jump into the Atlantic on the morning of the Super Bowl. As interest spread from the curious plunge, the two turned it into a charity event in honor of friend Mike Bradley’s son, Paulie, who died of cancer at age 4, in 1997.

“A granted wish for these children is a life-changing experience,” Eramo said. “I know I speak for the whole city when I say it’s an honor to help Make-a-Wish continue it’s mission each and every year.”

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