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So, If Your Friends Jumped off a Bridge Would You Too?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Alaska Dream Makers 14818, 15692

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE SEWARD ALASKA 2011

If it was for a good cause, you bet!

Since 1986 people from all over have been jumping into the very, very, very cold waters of Resurrection Bay to raise money (and awareness) for the American Cancer Society.

 

 

This frigid tradition continues this weekend (Jan 21-23, 2011) in the same fashion. Although costumes are not mandatory they are prevalent. Perhaps those crazy philanthropic folks have the mistaken belief that that extra layer of fluff will help to shield them from the icy cold water. Nah, it may give them an extra .05 seconds before the water hits them though.

You do not have to jump to be involved though and there are plenty of other activities in town as well. There is everything from basketball to Wii bowling, a book sale, parade, quilt show, turkey (only frozen turkeys will be used), oyster slurping and Karaoke to mention a few.

There are discounts at the Alaska Sea Life Center for Alaska residents and military (20% discount) and the Center is free if you are wearing your Polar Bear Plunge tee shirt.

 We have a very close friend that took the Polar Bear Plunge a couple years ago in memory of her mom that had recently died of cancer. She got together with a group of folks from work and jumped in full belly dancer attire. They had a blast and raised a bunch of money for cancer research.

When we spoke with Kirsten afterward, she explained that the water is so cold that it does something to your muscles. She said that it feels like you are trying to swim through loose Jell-O. Her breath was taken away because of the shock when she hit the cold water!

Even though Jacque was born in Alaska and Larry has been here for 20 years, we have still not joined in the fun of the Polar Bear Plunge. We have been in the lakes and rivers in the summer (still very cold but nothing like this). Maybe next year...but we might need some help gathering up the courage to do it though.

 For more information on the Polar Bear Plunge in Seward Alaska, you can call Reach the Polar Bear Festival at ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS POLAR BEAR HOTLINES: (907)-980-9638 (907)-980-9632

 For a schedule of events go to: http://directory.seward.com/events/details/polar-bear-jump-off-weekend

Jacque & Larry

Posted by

www.AlaskaDreamMakers.com

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Alaska Dream Makers

Larry & Jacque Ficek

Broker/Owner, ABR, CRS, GRI, SFR, Realtor®
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Comments (10)

Kathy Denworth
BHHS Keys Real Estate - Islamorada, FL
Realtor in the Florida Keys, Islamorada, Key Largo

Is there such a thing as a heated wet suit? That is about the only way you would get me in there. We whine in the winter when the water dips down to 70 degrees!

Jan 21, 2011 08:12 AM
Kerrie La Guardia
ActiveRain, Community Manager - Kirkland, WA
Let it Rain!

I have always wanted to do this just too chicken!  Bock bock!  :)

Jan 21, 2011 08:45 AM
Larry & Jacque Ficek
Alaska Dream Makers - Wasilla, AK
Realtors - Wasilla Alaska

No kidding Kathy! It doesn't sounds like fun either but it is for a good cause. Larry said he would volunteer me for it but it would take him too long to thaw out.

Jacque & Larry

Jan 21, 2011 09:29 AM
Larry & Jacque Ficek
Alaska Dream Makers - Wasilla, AK
Realtors - Wasilla Alaska

Kerrie, it would be more like a frozen butterball turkey but now we have a good idea for costumes if we want to join forces and jump together! There is another jump in Palmer late February. They cut the ice off the frozen lake and in you go. Bbbrrrrrrrr

Jan 21, 2011 09:44 AM
Deborah Bly
eXp Realty, LLC - League City, TX
Realtor

I'm getting cold sitting here in my seat just watching the video. Think I would need to make my contributions in other ways.

Jan 21, 2011 02:55 PM
Larry & Jacque Ficek
Alaska Dream Makers - Wasilla, AK
Realtors - Wasilla Alaska

C'mon Deborah where is your sense of adventure (said from another that has not yet taken the plunge)! Just kidding!

Jacque & Larry

Jan 21, 2011 07:28 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Larry & Jacque, If for a good cause and it raises money and awareness … I would. I would have fun and for sure hold the fastest time for getting out of the water!

Jan 22, 2011 04:36 PM
Larry & Jacque Ficek
Alaska Dream Makers - Wasilla, AK
Realtors - Wasilla Alaska

You should see these folks get into and out of the water Kathleen! They slowly make their way out there (or use a little machismo) and then jump. It is like the brains freeze when the body touches the water. They do have divers in the water and you do not get too go far before being scooped up and helped out. I am debating on doing it, but if I do the next one, you will certainly hear about it in this forum!

Jan 22, 2011 05:29 PM
Christina ONeal
At Home Real Estate Group - Ripon, CA
Realtor - Ripon California

Wow Larry & Jacque...  That is amazing!!! Thank you for sharing.  We have something like that down here but it's the Polar Bear thing & people go water skiing on New Years Day morning.  It's not to raise money (however that's a great idea) & we are in CA so the water is not like yours up there in Alaska.  I love it.

Christina Oneal

Jan 23, 2011 01:41 AM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Well maybe next year Larry & Jacque.  Good post. 

I enjoy watching when they do this in Erie, PA but I can't imagine doing it myself.  Let me walk 20 miles to raise money for charity.

I followed you here from comments you made on Tammy Lankford's post about her EMT daughter.  Your comments were very insightful and I am sure that Tammy will appreciate them.  I plan to subscribe to your blog so I can read more about Alaska.

Jan 26, 2011 01:06 AM