A Wish Come True will hold its 23rd annual Polar Plunge Challenge at Easton’s Beach on New Year’s Day, with hundreds of participants expected to run into the Atlantic to raise money for children facing life-threatening illnesses.
The plunge begins at noon on Friday, Jan. 1. Registration is open now.
Among the children the event supports is Grace, a 9-year-old from North Kingstown who has faced medical challenges since birth and lives with an immune system disorder, according to the organization. Grace is a Harry Potter fan and hopes to visit the Wizarding World at Universal Studios with her family.
“We always talk about starting the New Year by doing something good for ourselves. The Polar Plunge is a chance to do something good for someone else, too,” said Mary-Kate O’Leary, A Wish Come True’s executive director. “A few seconds in freezing water might push you outside your comfort zone, but it can help give a child like Grace memories with her family that last a lifetime.”
Participants can register individually or form teams. Registration starts with a $25 minimum donation, and participants are encouraged to raise more.
Those who raise $100 by Jan. 1 receive a Polar Plunge long-sleeve shirt and a tumbler. Raising $500 adds a VIP backpack. Teams that raise $1,000 or more are entered in a drawing for $1,500. To qualify, participants must register online and raise money through their fundraising page. Fundraising closes at 11:59 p.m. Jan. 1.
People who would rather stay dry can fundraise, donate to a plunger or team, or watch from the beach, the organization said.
Registration and donations are available at p2p.onecause.com/polarplunge.
Founded in 1982, A Wish Come True was the first wish-granting organization in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It grants wishes to children ages 3 to 18 facing life-threatening illnesses and supports their families across Rhode Island, central and southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut.
