Long Beach's Polar Bear Plunge Set for Sunday

Long Beach's annual Polar Bear Plunge is set for Sunday, Feb. 5 -- the morning of the Superbowl.

Now in its 18th year, the Polar Bear Plunge is annual fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Each year, thousands of people run into the frigid waters of Long Beach to raise money for the cause. And each year, the plunge grows. Last year, an estimated 20,000 people participated and raised $450,000. Since 2000, the Long Beach event has raised $5.2 million.

The run is held on the Long Beach Boardwalk at Riverside Boulevard. Participants should meet at 12:30 p.m. for the plunge at 1:30. But be warned: this is one of the busiest traffic days of the year in the city. People coming from out of town are encouraged to carpool or take public transportation. If you live in Long Beach, the city will be providing free shuttle buses starting at 10:30 a.m. and running until 2:30 p.m.

There's still plenty of time to register for the plunge. If you're interested in participating, click here to go to the registration page. If running headfirst into freezing water isn't you're thing, you can click here to make a general donation to the cause.

For more information about the plunge and how you can get involved, visit the Long Beach Polar Bears website.

Photo: Patch