Pirates prepare for 2010 Polar Bear Plunge

GREENVILLE, N.C. — Get your swimsuit ready. The 14th Annual “Polar Bear Plunge” will begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at the East Carolina University Student Recreation Center. ECU students, faculty and staff are invited to soar into the icy waters of the outdoor pool.

The Polar Bear Plunge started in 1997 as a part of the grand opening of the Student Recreation Center with 35 students taking the plunge. The event has grown significantly each year. The number of jumpers surpassed 500 in 2008 and closed in on 600 in 2009.

All jumpers are encouraged to bring a canned food item and “Feed the Bear” with all donations going to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. Student participants will receive a raffle ticket for prizes, including a $150 Dowdy Student Stores gift certificate. And students donating a canned food item will receive a second raffle ticket. The first 500 jumpers will receive a T-shirt.

Following the jump, food will be available for participants on the Student Recreation Center concourse while prizes are drawn for and distributed. ECU’s campus radio station WZMB-FM will broadcast live from the event.

Students will also get a chance to learn about programs, activities and organizations at ECU through the “Get A Clue” involvement fair, which will be held on the SRC basketball courts.

Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. on SRC Court #1, and student participants should bring their ECU One Card to sign up. Prize drawings are expected to begin at 8:15 p.m. The event is sponsored by Campus Recreation & Wellness, Campus Living & Dining, and University Unions.
For more information call (252) 328-6387 or come to 128 Student Recreation Center. Pictures and video are available at the Facebook event, “ECU Polar Bear Plunge.”