Polar Bear Plunge In Baltimore Canceled...
Too Cold Too Windy!
For the first time in its 18 year history the Polar Bear Plunge was canceled today because of high winds and 3 foot waves. The wind pushed ice into a 10 foot wide path along the beach. According to members from the medical team, frostbite would begin within five minutes of being exposed. Just think if you fell in the water, it would take you longer than 5 minutes to get out of the elements. Too dangerous to plunge.
How cold is Baltimore?
Cold enough to cancel the Polar Bear Plunge.
These winds were high enough that the beach would have been closed even in the summer.
This yearly event raises funds for Maryland Special Olympics. Over 7000 people were registered and ready to go into the icy water at Sandy Point State Park. More than 10,000 spectators were expected.
Jim Schmutz, the president of Special Olympics Maryland was quoted "As the tide has receded, there are effectively frozen boulders of sand on the beachfront, ....the Maryland Park Service came out and effectively shut the beach down for safety reasons."
The Polar Bear Plunge was on track to raise $1.8 million just shy of their goal of $2.8 million dollars.
Many of you reading this, are probably disappointed in not being able to plunge today. The really good news...you can still donate COLD hard CASH to this worthy cause. Donations can be made through the Maryland State Police and The Maryland Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Maryland is a year-round sports organization dedicated to providing quality sports training and competition opportunities to Maryland’s children and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or closely related development disabilities. The organization currently serves 10,000 athletes statewide, and offers 28 sports, all at no cost to the athletes or their families. For more information, visit
www.somd.org or
call 410-789-6677 x117.
Polar Bear Plunge In Baltimore Canceled...
Too Cold Too Windy!
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