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Lewes Polar Bear Plunge makes a splash for Special Olympics

Event celebrating 33 years of chilly fun
Rehoboth Beach was filled with Polar Bears plunging for Special Olympics Delaware. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
February 4, 2024

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The 33rd annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge Feb. 4 in Rehoboth Beach brought out a record 4,388 Polar Bears, who raised a record $1.5 million for Special Olympics Delaware.

Participants take a dip in the chilly Atlantic Ocean at the annual fundraiser, which helps SODE provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for 4,200 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Programs and activities enable participants to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other athletes and the community.

"The continued support of our Bears to keep plunging themselves year after year and recruiting others to join them is truly amazing," said David Halley, president and CEO of Special Olympics Delaware. "The support we receive from sponsors and the businesses throughout the state and particularly in the town of Rehoboth Beach makes this event a very attractive one for all involved. Our athletes have inspired us in so many ways, and an event of this magnitude that involves the support of so many people is a true indication of just how much respect and admiration our athletes have earned.”   

For more information about the Special Olympics, go to sode.org.

 

A record 4,388 Polar Bears run to the chilly Atlantic Ocean during the 33rd annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Delaware.
Plungers exit the chilly water as fast as they go in.
Friends, family and Polar Bears fill the beach at the 33rd annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics Delaware.
Matt Hayes and Julie Millan brought the luck of the Irish to the plunge.
Officers from the Delaware State Police, and Dover and New Castle County police departments assist in putting up barriers for the safety of the Polar Bears.
Special Olympics Sussex Riptide team poses for a team photo before the plunge.
Caszmere Bethea of the New Castle Police Department puts a barrier in place for the safety of the polar bears.
Darrell O’Connor of the Sandbears puts the finishing touches on the top of the sand art display he created with Andy West, Marc Schaffer, Heather Williams, Lynn Boyer Williams, Pete Faverio and Adam Basalyga.
Special Olympics Delaware Director of Media Relations Jon Buzby welcomes the crowd to the 33rd annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge.
Greg Mack, one of the original Polar Bears, receives a plaque of recognition from Special Olympics Delaware President David Halley.
Lee Witt of Rehoboth Beach shows off her polar bear headwear before the plunge.
Irv and Phyllis Levin, whose son is a Special Olympics Delaware athlete, matches the donation of anyone during the plunge. Shown are (l-r) Special Olympics Delaware’s Director of Media Relations Jon Buzby, Irv Levin and Special Olympics Delaware President David Halley.
Melissa Schulte, left, and Diane Frentzel pose with Coastie of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The Like, Totally Poler plunge team with an ’80s theme was the top fundraising team, collecting more than $57,000.
The Hoppy Plungers team poses for a picture before the plunge. The group consists of Tom Greenwood, Alice Rybarczyk, Matthew Swanton and Lenny Vito. They raised $1,800 for the Special Olympics.
Pals Levi Wolfe, left, and JJ Justice get a hug in their Polar Bear robes before the plunge.
Sara and Annemarie Perrotta pose with Lewie P Bear.
Carmela Osterberg, 2, meets Petey the Peacock from Coast TV.
Polar Bear Plunge sponsor WaWa gave coffee and hot chocolate to everyone in attendance.
Veteran Polar Bear Danielle Kreider says I’m not cold, you are.
Blue Rocks mascot Rocky Bluewinkle hangs out with the WAWA mascot Wally Goose before the plunge.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol captain Captain Jeffrey Giles (third from left) and the dive team gets prepared to keep the Polar Bears safe.
Delaware Star Wars costume clubs raised $2,888 this year for Special Olympics.
I ain’t afraid of no ghost. The ghostbuster group is (l-r) Ariana O"brien, 1st plunge. Rhonda Figueroa, 8th plunge, Veronica Figueroa, 4th plunge, Meghan Aiken (Slimer) 13th plunge, and Jeremy Coleman, 22nd plunge.
A giant crowd filled the boardwalk just before the plunge.
Phyllis and Irv Levin, whose son is a Special Olympics Delaware athlete, matches the donation of anyone during the plunge. They then tripled each donation just before the plunge.
The Rehoboth Beach Patrol were on duty to make sure everyone had a safe plunge. Shown are (l-r) Thad Zimmer, Josh Walker, James Klein.
Receiving a plaque of appreciation from Special Olympics Delaware President David Halley, left, is Steve Monz from the Rock Shop on 107.7.
Receiving a plaque of appreciation from Special Olympics Delaware President David Halley, left, is Greg Nolt, state director, Delaware Law Enforcement for Special Olympics.
SODE Hall of Famer and weightlifting champion Jon Stoklosa gets a hug from a Polar Bear before the plunge.
Receiving a plaque of appreciation from Special Olympics Delaware President David Halley, left, is Danny Mills, General manager at the Milford Wawa.
Polar Bears jockey for position before the plunge.
They’re off.
Come in the water’s fine.
Family members document their loved ones plunge.
Polar Bears scurry to find their towel and coats after taking the plunge.
The DNR Police boatb was on duty to keep the polar bears safe.
A member of the dive team goes to his post to keep the Polar Bears safe.
Polar Bears prepare to plunge.
The WaWa team pose before the plunge. They are the main sponsor for the event.
Polar Bears escort Phyllis Levin up the boardwalk.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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