Hundreds of People Join Polar Bear Club Members in Icy Splash

The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States, according to its website. The club members swim in the Atlantic Ocean at Coney Island every Sunday from October through April.

In addition to the Sunday swims, the club meets every year on New Year’s Day and invites all the citizens of New York City and beyond to join them on the boardwalk. The New Year’s Day 1:00 swim has been a tradition since 1903. This year the club partnered with Camp Sunshine to raise money for Camp Sunshine, a retreat that provides respite, support, and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The program is free of charge to all families.

The Polar Bear Club invited all of the annual swim attendees to support their efforts to raise money for Camp Sunshine. Pledges could be made online at the club’s Freezin’ for a Reason website, or donations could be made at the swim meet on New Year’s Day. All supporters were invited to a free breakfast at the New York Aquarium.

The club had hoped to raise more than $50,000 for the camp, but were able to raise only about $25,000. However, that amount was well in excess of the $6,000 raised for a different charity last year, according to club spokesman Louie Scarcella. This year’s turnout was poorer than expected because of bad weather, Scarcella said. "It’s psychological, I think. Some people don’t like the rain."

Still, hundreds of people joined the 80 club members to bravely splash into the icy cold 48-degree waters to start the new year. One of those extras, a 32-year old man, ended up in the hospital after diving into shallow waters. A spokesman for Lutheran Medical Center said the man is in stable condition but is undergoing examinations.