7th Annual Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip

It’s time for the
mid-winter tradition when hundreds of individuals dressed in crazy costumes
will dive into bone chilling Lake Anne for children with life-threatening
illnesses. The event will kick off at 1:00PM with family friendly activities and warm-up - with the dip scheduled to take place starting
at 2:00PM.  Each year the
event draws record crowds of both spectators and jumpers raising over
$70,000.  Registered participants will take a chilly full dive or a
“Chicken Dip” – to raise funds for Camp Sunshine, a national year-round retreat
for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

The creation of the
Virginia Polar Dip was started in 2008 by Northern Virginia based family the
Toth’s after a long history with Camp Sunshine. They first attended Camp
Sunshine as a participating family in 1996 when their daughter Jennifer was a
cancer patient at age 3, and they have returned as volunteers every summer since.
 After Jennifer participated in a Camp Sunshine Polar Dip in New Jersey,
her family decided to bring the event to Virginia in order to help more local
families.  Since 2008, 682 people have participated in the Virginia Polar
Dip raising over $306,000 for the camp.  The camp organizes 11 polar dips
on the East Coast each year. The event will be emceed for the fourth year in a
row by 97.1 WASH-FM morning show radio personality Chilli Amar.

 

This year’s goal is to raise $100,000, which will allow 50 families from the
Mid-Atlantic area (including VA/MD/DC/DE/PA/WV/NC) to come to Camp
Sunshine.   Through pledges or self-sponsorship, each participant
will raise/donate a minimum of $100 for the opportunity to plunge into the
frigid waters, and will receive a commemorative “I DID IT” event shirt. 
Spectators are welcome to come and cheer for the plungers.