Freeze for a Reason at 13th Annual North Hempstead Polar Plunge

Hundreds of locals will enter the freezing waters of Hempstead Harbor to raise funds for Special Olympics New York athletes during an annual polar plunge event held in Port Washington this winter.

Participants in the 13th Annual Town of North Hempstead Polar Plunge will be “Freezin’ for a Reason” when they bravely dive into North Hempstead Beach Park waters on Saturday, March 4.

Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the Polar Plunge kicks off at noon.

Special Olympics Polar Plunges are held across the country each year to attract thousands of thrill seekers to this exhilarating fundraising event.

Approximately 6,000 plungers helped raise nearly $1.4 million statewide in 2016. More than 600 of those participants took part in the plunge at North Hempstead Beach Park last year and raised more than $60,000. Check out a photo gallery of last year's polar plunge here.

“It is exhilarating to see so many brave residents take to the chilly waters and raise funds to benefit the Special Olympic Athletes," Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said in a press release.

Anyone who wants to join the cause but doesn’t want to take the plunge can join the “Chicken Coop,” which allows people to help raise money without jumping into frigid waters.

All funds raised will support Special Olympics New York which provides year-round sports training and competition in over 22 Olympic-style sports for more than 65,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities living in New York.

To get involved, visit www.polarplungeNY.org/northhempstead.

For more information, call 311 or (516) 869-6311, or call Rebecca Strickland at the Special Olympics Long Island at (631) 254-1465 ext. 203. Rebecca can also be reached at rstrickland@nyso.org.

Images via TONH