Beach Life magazine • Beach Briefs, Winter 2024 • Photographs by Scott Nathan • Article by Hope Katz Gibbs

When Tom Haney retired, he wanted to spend some of his spare time giving back to the community while also staying in shape. The Joppa, Md., resident — who was a firefighter at the Dover Air Force Base from 1988 until his retirement in 1993 — started running marathons to benefit charities, but in 2020 he had another idea: to participate in as many polar bear plunges as possible.

“I’m dedicated to helping others, and yes, I may be a little insane,” Haney said last February when, with more than 4,000 others, he ran into the 41-degree Atlantic Ocean to benefit Special Olympics Delaware. It was one of his 50 plunges — so far — around the region.

The event is part of an annual winter weekend celebration in Rehoboth Beach that includes a 5K walk/run race along the boardwalk, ice and sand sculpting demonstrations, trolley tours, and a chili contest. The frigid but fun festivities generated more than $1.5 million last winter.

The tradition began in 1991 when leaders of Special Olympics Delaware approached one of the most active polar bear clubs in the region, the Lewes Polar Bears Club, with the proposition of designating one of its annual plunges to generate donations for the organization that provides sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

While the Mayo Clinic reports that a mid-winter plunge can be the biggest jolt a human can experience — short of a lightning strike — research indicates that immersing in icy water may positively affect recovery after exercise by reducing inflammation and soreness.

There are precautions to take, of course: Event organizers say to have a spotter on shore to keep an eye on the plunger, have a towel and dry clothes ready, and a cellphone in case of emergency. Perhaps most importantly, don’t stay in the water for over two minutes. ■

For details, visit plungede.org.

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