The Polar Plunge is now one of the organization’s largest fundraisers. Last year, about 5,000 people took the plunge, raising $27,000, according to a written release from A Wish Come True.
“It’s a needed break for the families because they’re constantly worried about their medical issues... They’re constantly going to doctors’ appointments. It brings them hope.”
- Mary-Kate O'Leary, Executive Director
NEWPORT — People who like to begin the year with the annual Polar Plunge at Easton’s Beach on New Year’s Day with thousands of other people won’t be able to do so in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The fundraiser has benefited different organizations over the decades, but for the past 16 years, it has assisted A Wish Come True, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Instead of asking people to hop into Easton’s Bay, A Wish Come True will be asking would-be plungers to instead dump a bucket of ice water on themselves in January and share a video of it on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #AWCTPolarPlunge.
The event was inspired by the Ice Bucket Challenge made popular by former Boston College baseball player Peter Frates, who lost his battle with ALS in 2019.
The Polar Plunge is now one of the organization’s largest fundraisers. Last year, about 5,000 people took the plunge, raising $27,000, according to a written release from A Wish Come True.
The organization’s Ice Bucket Challenge will be running throughout the month of January, not just on Jan. 1, when the Polar Plunge usually happens. A Wish Come True is asking plungers to mention in their video who they are plunging for, and also to challenge family and friends to participate to spread awareness of the virtual fundraiser and raise funds for this special cause.
“We understand that some individuals may still wish to do the Polar Plunge at the beach on their own,” says the release. “Even though we are not running the event due to COVID-19 crowd restrictions, we will still welcome any donations from those individuals as well.”
Two of the many children who will receive assistance in the coming year from the organization are 4-year-olds Kaiden of Fall River, Massachusetts, and Nathan of Wakefield.
Kaiden was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder in 2019 that causes inflammation that damages his immune system, vital tissues, and organs. He recently received stem cell and bone marrow transplants and spent most of the year in Boston Children’s Hospital.
Nathan was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and has spent months at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence for surgeries and other treatments. He is looking forward to the end of his treatments soon.
Both children wish to go to Give Kids the World and Disney World in Florida with their families.
All donations allow A Wish Come True to fulfill wishes for children like these with life-threatening illnesses, according to Mary-Kate O’Leary, executive director of A Wish Come True.
“It’s a needed break for the families because they’re constantly worried about their medical issues,” she said. “They’re constantly going to doctors’ appointments. It brings them hope.”
In the past, the annual Polar Plunge was organized for decades by the Newport Polar Bears. Winter swims at Easton's Beach may go back to the early 1900s, based on former members' recollections.
Former Mayor Harry Winthrop has said his grandfather Luke Curran, a pharmacist, and Flurry Sullivan founded the Newport Polar Bears in the 1930s. There have been different incarnations of the club over the years, he said.
Others claim the actual organized Newport Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day goes back to 1969 and proceeds have benefited different organizations since then, but it is now dedicated to A Wish Come True and 2021 would have been its 17th annual Polar Plunge.
Donations can be made on A Wish Come True’s Just Giving page, justgiving.com/awishcometrueinc, or on Venmo @AWishComeTrue.
