The City of Seward will host their 39th annual Polar Bear Jump off at the Small Boat Harbor to honor those who have survived their battle with cancer, pay tribute to all those who have been lost to the disease, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society.
Annette Vrolyk, the Senior Development Manager at the American Cancer Society, says that the event started back in 1985, and in its 39 years, this is the first time that they will have a presenting sponsor.
“Daiichi Sankyo is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in New Jersey that has come on with a large cash donation to support the event, as well as the mission of the American Cancer Society.,” Vrolyk said.
The big jump will be on Saturday, Jan. 13th from 12:30 to 1:30.
Check in for the event, and safety protocols will take place at the Breeze Inn Motel from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Starting at 11:30 a.m., there will be a half hour long parade that starts at the Alaska SeaLife Center parking lot, where viewers can see the faces of all the participants who are preparing to jump into the frigid waters. For individuals who plan to dress up, this is also a last chance for everyone to see their outfits before they get sopping wet. The parade ends at 12 at the Seward Small Boat Harbor.
And at 12:30, it’s time for the big jump!
There will be trained safety swimmers in the water to ensure that everyone who jumps in has a safe time.
“The volunteers that that were in charge of planning this event, you know, over 30 something years ago, found that the limit that they could safely have safety swimmers in the water is up to an hour, and so we can safely have 100 jumpers participating in this event before it becomes dangerous for the safety swimmers that we have in the water.”
In order to ensure that the safety swimmers are not in harm’s way of the cold water, Vrolyk says only the top 100 people who raise the most money are able to jump in. Participants are asked to commit to fundraising at least $750 to participate, and then whoever gets the highest or closest amount to that number should brace themselves to feel the waters of the frigid north.
After the jump, there will be an awards ceremony from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Breeze Inn, among a few other activities into the night.
Besides the jump and parade on Saturday, there will also be other events happening that Friday and Sunday as well.
The biggest event on Friday will be an action fundraiser, which will take place from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. All the auction benefits will be donated to the Kenai Peninsula Children with Cancer. This grant program ( KPCC) is a nonprofit that works to help families whose littles ones have been diagnosed with cancer.
“And so, families on the Kenai Peninsula who have a child that has been diagnosed with cancer can reach out to the seaward polar bear jump off festival incorporated and request a grant to help offset some of the financial costs. Or financial burdens that those families may be facing,” said Vrolyk.
Some of the other events on Friday include a Steak night at the American Legion at the corner of Fifth Ave and Jefferson. The cost is $25 per person and begins at 4:00 p.m.
At 9:30 p.m., there will be a DJ Hank Dance party at Tony’s Bar.
The weekend fun comes to a momentous close Sunday morning, with a Luminary Moment begging at 8:45 a.m. This is a fundraiser for the Seward Polar Bear Jump grant program.
“On Sunday morning, just before sunrise or about an hour before sunrise, they gather as the Branson Pavilion, and put names that people want to remember or honor that has been touched by cancer and hold a nice by ceremony there as a branch and pavilion overlooking the resurrection bay there. And so that those funds raised through those two activities directly benefits Kenai Peninsula Children with Cancer grant program. So those are two events that I know a lot of people enjoy the auction and the luminary moment,” said Vrolyk.
For individuals who are interested in learning the history of the SPBJ, there will be a historical display at the Seward Community Library on Friday from 9:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m on Saturday.
For more information about the event, click here!
