Freezing water and fun

Winter fundraising jumps into freezing water are a staple across the country. The activity may be most ironic, however, far up north in Alaska’s Resurrection Bay. For the last 33 years, the town of Seward has hosted the Polar Bear Jumpoff Festival on a weekend in late January, and one of the main participants is the local American Legion Post 5.

The festival started as a way to raise money for the fight against cancer, and according to past post adjutant/commander Clare Sullivan, the post has played a role since the beginning. “We are just thrilled to be part of it, and a base of support and a hub for the activities,” she says. For this year’s festival, those activities included two steak dinners, a community breakfast, turkey bowling (pretty much exactly what it sounds like), a fish feed, a karaoke contest, and offering the post as the parade’s starting point.

Jumpers collect monetary pledges from individuals and organizations. Most teams are organized around workplaces; several of the post’s younger members have participated. Costumes are a common sight. Best of all, the average yearly proceeds top $100,000. And Post 5 helps make it happen.

https://www.legion.org/fodpal/photos/241374/freezing-water-and-fun