This Sunday, hundreds of people will make like a polar bear and take a dip in the frigid waters of Lake Ontario 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.

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

“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 seventies participate,” Clark said.

Last year, Polar Bear Day raised about $15,000 for organizations such as Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Glasses for the Sight Impaired and local food and soup kitchens, according to Clark. Swimmers normally collect donations totaling between $25 and $50 from sponsors. The minimum donation is $10, but some have raised over $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 fund raising 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 years old and younger at Olcott Beach.

According to Clark, the veteran swimmers recommend wearing only a bathing suit rather than clothing because having ice cold fabric cling to the skin after emerging from the water only makes the swimmers colder. Dry suits would also help minimize the coldness. Swimmers should be prepared and bring two pairs of shoes (one for the water and one for after the swim), towels, a blanket and a dry change of clothes.

“They say it’s not so much that the water is cold, it’s when you come out of the water that it gets really cold,” said Clark, who has been a spectator for many years but has not participated in the swim.

Each swimmer gets to bring one helper down to the beach to help them dry off and change into dry clothes after the swim. There is not a heated facility for people to change other than their own cars.

Local fire fighters will serve as safety officials during the swim in case an injury occurs. According to Clark, the event could turn dangerous if people dive or run in the water since there will be ice chunks in the water.

Clark recommends arriving early to avoid parking problems and having to park far away from the excitement. Handicapped parking is available on Ontario Street.





If You Go

What: Polar Bear Day 2008

Where: Olcott Beach, off Route 18 at Route 78 North in Krull Park

When: Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Minimum donation is $10

Info: Visit www.olcottlions.org