Now a yearly tradition, the 13th Annual Super Bowl Splash 2012 brings out Polar Bears to face the frigid Atlantic Ocean for a cause.
Fearless of the chilly February waters in New York, the Super Bowl Splash 2012 brings out Polar Bears in Long Beach to dive into the Atlantic Ocean for a cause. The tradition happens every Super Bowl Sunday to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The 13th Annual Super Bowl Splash brings the Long Beach Polar Bears out to take the plunge on Sunday, February 5, 2012. They meet at 12:30 pm and dive into the Atlantic Ocean at 1:30 pm. The swim takes place at the boardwalk at Edwards, Riverside Beach in Long Beach, New York.
The City of Long Beach plays host to the annual event. According to the Long Beach website, “What began with two friends, Kevin McCarthy and Pete Meyers, has become a tradition for thousands of Long Beach residents and visitors.”
A record turnout is expected for 2012. All the proceeds from this daring waterfront event are donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York. The event continues to attract media attention with past coverage from MSG Varsity of veteran participant Jordan Bochner.
The Long Beach Polar Bears website encourages supporters to help by purchasing merchandise, making donations and getting sponsorships. A sponsorship form is available at the website as well as a waiver to fill out to gain access to the beach. Corporations are encouraged to get associated with the renowned South Shore event by calling 516-897-BEAR for details.
According to their website, the Polar Bears are motivated by “comaraderie, a touch of madness and a common goal: To honor the memory of Paulie Bradley and to keep his young spirit alive in others.”
Paulie Bradley was an active, fun-loving three year old boy with a dream. He spent summer days on Monroe Boulevard Beach and wanted to become a lifeguard. Paulie was often spotted riding his boogie board in the waves.
But Paulie did not live long enough to make his wish come true of playing on the beach in Puerto Rico. The little boy who loved his family and the beach was just four years old when he passed over on November 16, 1997.
Now the Long Beach Polar Bear Swim helps makes wishes possible for other children living with live-threatening diseases. Every Super Bowl Sunday, Paulie's spirit is alive as a growing community of family and friends dive into the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
While the Super Bowl Splash only happens once a year, donations are accepted all year round. Visit the Polar Wear page to buy hats, shirts and pants in support of the cause. Supporters can also find an address to mail a check to Make-A-Wish.
Make-A-Wish Foundation is the largest wish-granting organization in the nation. In 1980, the Foundation started by granting a wish to one boy who wanted to be a police officer. Now every 40 minutes, a child in the U.S. facing a life-threatening medical condition has their wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
As New Yorkers wait for the 46th Super Bowl to start at 6:30 pm tonight on NBC, sports enthusiasts are eager to see if the NY Giants will emerge victorious against the New England Patriots. Either way, everyone is a winner who takes part in the Super Bowl Splash 2012 in Long Beach.
As football followers search for Super Bowl recipes for hot wings and 7 layer dip, take a few minutes to visit longbeachpolarbears.org or www.superbowlsplash.kintera.org to make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and bring a child's dream to life. Below is a video of the Super Bowl Splash at Long Beach last year.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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