More than 3,600 plunge for Special Olympics

Part of the large crowd of plungers heads into the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach during the 26th annual Polar Bear Plunge. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS

February 6, 2017

Even with a water temperature of 41 degrees and air temperature of nearly 50 degrees, the ocean is still a shock to the system.

Wilmington Blue Rocks mascot Rocky Bluewinkle gets into the spirit of the event celebrating the plunge.

Father and daughter Jason and Josie Pyrt of Townsend are all smiles on plunge day.

Sherm Porter, left, and Joe Poppiti are part of a island-themed team.

Mike Little, aka. Minion, is part of the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center team.

From the left, Nate Bolton, Gabriella Trincia, Parker Bolton and Lee Wit of Wilmington are dressed in a Mardi Gras theme.

The Dancing Divas from Philadelphia pose for a photo prior to taking a dip in the ocean.

The lobster ladies are (l-r) Elizabeth Oakley, Diane Frentzel and Melissa Schulte.

Steve Cockerill of Wilmington gets ready just minutes before the 1 p.m. plunge.

Larry Evans of Milford, left, and Robb Dunne of Ocean City strike a pose before jumping in the ocean.

Paul Morrow of Long Neck might be the first “unicorn” to take the plunge.

Hannah Harmon, left, and Sierra Sipes take a cold dip as part of the Middletown High School team.

Andrew Boyle, left, and Hunter Whalen of Bethany Blues have their hot plates sizzling.

Anthony Jacona, left, and Alex Hudson of Zogg’s Sea Hogg prepare a plate of wings as a fan favorite in the Fire and Ice wings competition.

Sherman and Steff DiMartine of Sherm’s Catering have hot wings ready.

Gretchen Lauer, left, and Samantha Martinez offer samples of Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream, the judges’ Fire and Ice pick.

Rodney Wilson Jr. and Libby Seaman scoop out some Hopkins Creamery ice cream, selected as the fan favorite in the Fire and Ice contest.

Darrell O’Connor works on a large sandcastle Jan. 4, the day before the plunge.

Andy West, front, and Darrell O’Connor add some artistic touches to a large sandcastle.

Sisters of the Plunge hold up a large banner after registering for the plunge.

The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is crowded like a summer weekend during Polar Bear Plunge Sunday.

Members of the Caesar Rodney High School wrestling team are uniformed and ready to plunge.

A “storm trooper” takes a photo to capture the moment.

A wave of people prepare to enter the chilly Atlantic Ocean, and then exit very quickly.

Rocky Bluewinkle gets a hug as he prepares to leave the ocean after taking the plunge.

It must be Polar Bear weekend as thousands of brave souls gather on Rehoboth Beach.

Even 41-degree water is enough to make plungers shiver.

Carlos Prugue and Peter Pizzologo, with residences in Washington, D.C. and Rehoboth Beach, are enthusiastic Polar Bears.

David Bickel, left, and Roy Fowler of Pickled Pig Pub/Pig and Fish serve some of the Fire and Ice judges’ pick for best wings.

Rehoboth Beach was filled with thousands of people Feb. 5 taking part and watching the 26th annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics. More than 3,600 plungers raised $900,000 to benefit Special Olympics Delaware bringing the 26-year total to $10 million.