Beverly Polar Plunge Returns To Lynch Park For 2024

BEVERLY, MA — Hundreds of brave souls will take a dip in the freezing February ocean water on Super Bowl Sunday to benefit housing and support services for those in need across the North Shore at the annual Polar Plunge at Beverly's Lynch Park.

The event is set for noon on Feb. 11 with this year's goal being to raise $25,000 for the North Shore Community Development Coalition and Lifebridge North Shore.

"As a community organization, we firmly believe that giving back is not an individual act, but a collective process that unites and empowers our community," said North Shore Deputy CEO Felicia Pierce. "Help us raise money and raise awareness by taking the plunge and making a splash for a cause that truly matters."

Groups, organizations and individuals are welcome to fundraise and take the plunge with last year's event including many members of the Danvers High School girls basketball program, the Bishop Fenwick National Honors Society and Nancy Glidden Coffey, who raised the most donations plunging in memory of Christy Ballantyne Doxsee and Melissa Varnavas.

"Swimming in the ocean and raising money for NSCDC/Lifebridge both feed my soul," said the 83-year-old Coffey, who raised $1,300 in donations last year. "In October of this year, after a good ocean swim, I broke my hip in a freak accident. That cut short my 2023 swimming season.

"I doubted that I would be able to plunge this year, but set it as a goal. Miraculously, I am ready. I am honored to swim in memory of my late neighbor Karen Raffa. My good friend Ken Glover will be my guardian."

North Shore CDC offers 450 affordable apartments in Beverly, Salem, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Gloucester. Lifebridge offers services and support for homeless and under-housed residents of the North Shore with shops in Salem and Peabody raising money for the organization and providing outreach.

"Lifebridge is inspired by the tremendous community support of the Polar Plunge over many years," said Jason Etheridge, Lifebridge North Shore President. "The plungers of all ages are giving back in a creative way to help the most vulnerable."

Those interested in fundraising and being part of the plunge are invited to go here to get started.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)