Take the Polar Bear Plunge from noon-1 p.m. Jan. 1, 2017, on North Beach in front of the Fajitaville restaurant in Corpus Christi. Proceeds go to ALS Therapy Development Institute. Photo by Steve Hambly
Now in its second year, the Corpus Christi Polar Bear Plunge is growing by leaps and splashes. Founder and organizer of the ALS fundraiser, Alissa Mejia, expects about 300 people this year, up from the 200 who took the first frigid dip into the waters of Corpus Christi Bay on New Year’s Day 2015.
The plunge begins at noon January 1 on North Beach in front of Fajitaville on the Beach, where participants will enjoy a warm lunch afterward. New events added in this second year include a ride on the Fajitaville restaurant’s Ferris wheel, a fun run and dogs.
“We’re putting up a tent to make it more dog-friendly,” Mejia said. “We want people to come and have fun with this. It’s a feel-good event.”
Participants will also feel cold but probably not as cold as last year's plunge. A series of cold fronts dropped the water temperatures to about 46 degrees in 2015. This year, Mejia is expecting it to be closer to 66 degrees.
“It could drop a bit more, but I think we’re getting off easy this year,” Mejia said.
Coming from Massachusetts, the dedicated athlete and columnist is used to much colder water for past Polar Bear Plunges. But she doesn’t do it for the thrill or the chill. She does it for her father and others like him who suffer from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a progressive chronic disease of the nerves. It causes a gradual degeneration of the nerves that control voluntary movement, leading to paralysis. The money raised from Polar Bear Plunges around the world is used to help discover a cure.
“ALS is a complex and difficult problem that can’t be solved without taking on a big challenge,” Mejia said. “The Polar Bear Plunge is symbolic of that. It’s a show of support for the people who suffer from this disease. It’s great that the Corpus Christi community is supporting the goal of finding a cure.”
After moving to Corpus Christi several years ago, Mejia and her husband took solo plunges on New Year’s Day each year for the cause. In 2014, after emerging dripping and chilled from the bay, they decided to make it an event. That led to 200 people racing into the icy waters last year, which in turn, led to a contribution of $11,000 to the ALS Therapy Development Institute.
“One hundred percent of the money we raise goes to the foundation,” Mejia said. “Where else can you do that and have fun at the same time? It’s a great, ceremonial way to kick off the New Year, bundled with a good cause.”
To participate in the plunge, register online at polarbearplunge.cc.
