Why I joined the Polar Plunge - A Brit's Chicago Bucket list!
Back in 2019 I plunged for the first time. Doing the polar plunge had been on my bucket list for years, and it was time to pack my bags, hop on a plane and travel 4000 miles to jump into a freezing lake. As the date rolled around, I realised that I was fully, utterly and completely unprepared for a winter visit to Chicago. I didn’t even have a coat in the house let alone anything else to keep me warm in the freezing temperatures I would be facing. So, I got myself some thermal leggings, dug the coat out of storage and off we went. As I boarded the plane I took one final inventory of what I had in my fairly small backpack for this flying visit to a chilly Chicago - Wolly hat? Check! Gloves? Check! Taco costume? Check! I had everything I needed.
Chicago is an incredibly cool city. It was so foggy when we arrived that we were given what we have now dubbed the ‘You can’t see it but..’ tour. But what was even cooler was being part of something as awesome as the plunge. The day before there was a question mark over whether it was going to happen (although Joe and I made it clear we were going to be jumping in regardless, I didn’t fly to Chicago for fun). America has some serious health and safety rules and Brian and the other amazing people involved in the plunge were tearing their hair out trying to make sure this thing was happening.
When the big day arrived, we tramped down to the beach to help with the set up. The people who volunteer their time for this event are truly wonderful. They arrive on the beach at 8.30 and it is COLD. It’s snowing, it’s windy, it’s absolutely freezing. Some get started hacking ice from the shoreline so we can all run in safely, some are setting up gazebos in the wind, some are bagging up the goodies that every participant gets given. The people who do this truly do it for the love. There is no reason to stand on a freezing cold beach for 6 hours otherwise.
The atmosphere on the beach was incredible. Plungers had been trickling onto the beach for the hour beforehand, dancing around to keep warm. The families who we fundraised for were there (and some of them plunged themselves!). There are people who have plunged every year, there are newbies like us. An 8 year old boy was my hero of the day.
I dressed as a taco, Joe had his union jack cape. Patty, my best friend, had a penguin outfit at the ready. Another of our Brighton friends joined us so the UK representation was pretty strong. The music was blaring and we were ready to go.
It was so cold I had to stop myself from hyperventilating after we came out of the lake. I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes. I had dutifully double knotted the trainers I wore to run into the lake, my thought process being that I didn’t want my laces to come undone but not considering that I would have no function in my fingers afterwards to get a double knot undone…
I was freezing from head to toe (you have to get your head under if you want to call yourself a true polar bear…) but post plunge I was BUZZING. It was the most fun you can have at -40 degrees. And warming up with Fireballs and Mexican food at the after party certainly didn’t hurt either. Knowing that we had raised money to help families in need was the icing on the freezing cold cake.
The reason I plunged for the first time was to visit Chicago and cross something off of my USA bucket list. The reason I will be plunging this year is because I was so inspired by the love that goes into arranging this amazing polar plunge, the impact it has on the families they help and, let be honest here, I have a brand new taco outfit that needs to be christened in Lake Michigan!
See you on the beach!
Amie
Beyond Polar Plunging - Top 10 Ways to Raise Money for Charity
Here at Chicago Polar Bear Club we know a thing or two about holding a charity event, so we wanted to share with you our top 10 ways to raise money for charity! Not all charity events have to be as cold or exciting as our polar plunge (but nothing wakes you up quicker than a dip in Lake Michigan!)
1. Do something crazy – The most fun way to raise money for a good cause is to do something crazy. What crazier thing could you do than doing a polar plunge in Lake Michigan in January? Personally, we would say it doesn’t get much more crazy than that. Want to join us for our Chicago Polar Plunge us in 2022? Register here.
2. Hold an Auction – Hit up friends, family and local businesses and get them to pledge anything they can to be auctioned to raise those much needed funds for your chosen charity.
3. Hold a Quidditch Tournament – Polar Plunge in Lake Michigan not your thing? Here is another crazy idea… Believe it or not, some clever Muggles have found a way to make Quidditch a real-life sport. It’s as fun to watch as it is to play, so makes for one of the most unique fundraising ideas. Set up a charity match and let everyone live out their teenage wizard dreams in exchange for a donation. It won’t be quite as fun to watch as a polar plunge, but it will be warmer!
4. Host a Swap Shop – Have people donate to attend and bring their unwanted items to swap for new swag. Bonus – Anything that isn’t claimed you can sell at your auction!
5. Arrange a Life Drawing Class – Find yourself a willing model and arrange a charity Life Drawing Class, which can be done in person or even virtually! This one is bound to spark some interesting conversation…
6. Set up a Wishing Tree - Sending wishes out into the universe can feel very empowering. Set up a space for people to post their anonymous messages in the local park. It doesn’t need to be a tree – an old piece of fence will do. Charge a small fee to add a message to the wall. Once complete, it will look great on social media
7. Host A street Party! - Sometimes, the best fundraising ideas are the simplest ones. Apply to the council for a special license to close down the street. Host a potluck dinner and get to know your neighbours. If mingling isn’t on the cards, restrict it to doorstep drinks with a donation.
8. Create your own Scavenger Hunt - Create a scavenger hunt based on the little things that might be seen on a neighbourhood stroll; a brown dog, a jogger, a post box etc. People can enter by sending photos of each item by email or social media sites like Instagram. The first person to find them all wins!
9. Arrange a Mini Golf Tournament - Hold a mini golf tournament with all the seriousness of the Masters! Find a patch of land, or park and create your own course, or ask a local mini golf course to donate their space. Have people donate to take part - or even take bets on the winner!
10. Run, Run, Run! – Ok, so its not the most inventive way to raise money for charity but sometimes the old ways are the best. Sign up for a Marathon, half marathon, 5k, fun run or night walk - whatever you can do and get your trainers on!
Numbers 2-10 might be good ideas, but number 1 is THE best way to raise money for charity. Plus Chicago Polar Bear Club gives every penny donated to our nominated families, so you know that every dollar raised by joining our polar bear plunge end up where it should be, helping people who need it. Join us in January 2022 for our 21st birthday plunge. And don’t forget, our after-party will be starting straight after the polar plunge. Come and warm up with a beer or two!