Local ‘polar bears’ to swim for a cause

Local News

March 2, 2008

Anonymous The Niagara Gazette Sun Mar 02, 2008, 01:34 AM EST

STAFF REPORTS

Hundreds of people will make like a polar bear and take a dip in the frigid waters of Lake Ontario today as part of Polar Bear Day to raise money for organizations included in the Olcott Lions Club’s Sight Projects.

While polar bears have a 5-inch-thick layer of blubber and a heavily insulated fur coat to keep them warm during winter swims, participants at this event will have only a bathing suit between them and the 34-degree lake water.

About 576 people had the courage to swim in the waist-high water last year, according to Bill Clark, chair of Swim for Sight at the Lions Club and event organizer for the past 10 years.

“It takes a special character to go in that water and swim, but there are many of them,” Clark said. “Some people go in and get their knees wet and jump out. Others swim and dive and stay in for 5 or 10 minutes.”

Polar Bear Day is an event with a 39-year history and has become a local tradition.

“There’s a lot of tradition. The sons, daughters and even grandchildren of people that swam in the ’70s

participate,” Clark said.

Last year, the swim raised about $15,000 for organizations such as Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Glasses for

the Sight Impaired and local food and soup kitchens, Clark said Swimmers normally collect donations totaling between $25 and

$50 from sponsors. The

minimum donation is $10, but some have raised more than $1,000.

Prizes such as sweaters, jackets and gift certificates will be awarded to participants, based on the size of their donation. Everyone will receive a free Polar Bear Day T-shirt.

This year’s events will begin, snow or shine, at

10 a.m. with a tailgate party. At the same time, participants can register for the swim and hand in their fundraising money until

2 p.m.

Throughout the day, the Highland Games Strongman Competition will be ongoing. This activity will feature men dressed up in kilts engaging in an old-time competition to see who can throw the heaviest objects the farthest with the most accuracy. According to Clark, old Celtic war heroes would compete in these types of competitions.

At 1:45 p.m., the Polar Bear Queen Contest will take place, determining who will have the honor of being the first to go in the water. The winner will be chosen by Lions Club judges based on who best exhibits the spirit of Polar Bear Day.

Swimming will start at

2 p.m. for adults and about 1:50 p.m. for children 18 and younger at Olcott Beach.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Legislation protecting Falls air base units moves forward
The effort to protect jobs at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station got a boost from a committee in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Korean student robbed at gunpoint in Falls
Detectives are investigating the robbery of a 25-year-old woman Wednesday night in front of a motel in the 400 block of Main Street.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Davis will not seek Murphy removal
Lawyers for accused killer Matthew “Bones” Davis say their client will not ask to have Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III removed from his case.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Labor group laments economic development efforts
Economic development in New York state has become a joke to some in the area. And many of them are demanding changes to a process which spends approximately $3 billion a year.

May 24, 2012
Repaving work on Old Military Road rises to $790K
Sometimes a change is good. Sometimes a change is bad. For the Town of Lewiston, a change can be pretty costly.

May 24, 2012
Fifth-grader presents list of 400 names asking for new playground
A 10-year-old boy carrying a petition containing more than 400 signatures asked members of the Niagara Falls School Board on Thursday to consider building a new playground at his school.

May 24, 2012
Bomb threat leads to arrest at NT school
A North Tonawanda teen was arrested Thursday morning for sending a one-sentence bomb threat to the computer of a fellow high school student, resulting in a brief lockdown of the school.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Sense of resignation on AES pact
May 24, 2012
Marching to the new veterans memorial
It's the unofficial beginning of summer.

Memorial Day may mean cookouts with hot dogs and hamburgers, a trip on the river in a boat or simply a day off from work Monday.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
Fugitive in meth case caught
Moments after Falls police narcotics detectives and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents uncovered a clandestine meth lab in the city's Echota neightborhood, their prime suspect sent a cryptic text message to Detective Joe Palmero.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
More Local News Headlines

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?