Hundreds will mark ten years jumping into a frigid lake for a children’s charity. Photo Contributed
Event Details
The 10th Annual Freezin’ for a Reason (Virginia Polar Dip) will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 at Lake Anne Plaza (Waterfront) - 1609 Washington Plaza, Reston, 12– 3 p.m. (Registration, Music, Activities, Post-Dip Celebration). Actual Polar Dip Begins at 2 p.m. Website(s): www.freezinforareas…, www.campsunshine.org, www.lakeanneplaza.c…
Cost: $100 minimum donation to plunge and is open to anyone willing to brave the elements for a good cause. Free to spectators. Rain or Shine (will be rescheduled if major snowstorm is forecast).
Wonder Woman. Super Man. Batman & Robin. Just an example of some of the costumes folks adorn to jump into Lake Anne in frigid temperatures for the Annual Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip, set to take place on Saturday, Feb. 11. The mid-winter event in its 10th year will kick off at 12:30 p.m. with music by Danny DJ, family friendly activities, and warm-up - with the Dip scheduled to take place starting at 2 p.m. Each year the event draws record crowds of both spectators and jumpers raising over $100,000. The event participation has increased over the years with the first year consisting of 33 jumpers to 2016 consisting of 215. This year’s event is estimating approximately 250 individuals to take the jump off Lake Anne’s dock. Registered participants will take a chilly full jump 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 by a Northern Virginia based family the Toths 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 the event’s inception, 1,484 people have participated in the Virginia Polar Dip raising over $623,000 for the camp. The event will be emceed for the seventh 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 40 families from the Mid-Atlantic area 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. This year, Lake Anne Plaza merchants the Reston Used Book Shop, Kalypso’s Sports Tavern, and the Lake Anne Brew House all formed employee staff teams to join in on the fun.
In addition to the Dip, Lake Anne Merchants will be hosting a variety of activities and promotions in their stores:
Chesapeake Chocolates, Wine, Gifts, and More - Wine tasting from 2-4 p.m., all proceeds from wine sales will be donated to Freezin for a Reason. Hot chocolate will also be available for purchase.
Kalypso's Sports Tavern – A key plaza sponsor of the event, will be donating 10 percent of sales from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the day of the jump.
Lake Anne Brew House – will donate a dollar for each pint sold during the event to the cause.
Lake Anne Coffee Shop & Wine Bar – a portion of sale proceeds occurring during the event will be donated to the cause.
Small Change Consignment – continues its tradition, as a sponsor of Freezin for a Reason, to donate hats, gloves & scarves to the jumpers, and to hold a one-day-a-year 1/2 price toy sale on the day of the polar dip, for the families of children who attend Camp Sunshine & the larger community of supporters.
For more information about the event or to register to participate, visit www.freezinforareason.com or become a Facebook Fan (Virginia Polar Dip) and view pictures from previous dips.