Freezin' for a Reason Polar Dip Saturday in Reston

Grown men dressed in superhero costumes, girlfriends in pink tutus and most likely a guy dressed up as Gumby: That’s what Reston residents look forward to seeing each year for the Annual Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip.

On Saturday, about 300 men, women and children will once again dress up in crazy costumes and converge at Lake Anne for the Annual Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip. The event, in its eighth year, will take place in the heart of Reston in the bone-chilling waters at Lake Anne Plaza,1609 Washington Plaza in Reston.

Temperatures Saturday are expected to be fairly mild for this time of year, getting into a “warm” mid-40s by the afternoon.

This mid-winter tradition event will kick off at 12 noon with family-friendly activities and warm-up, with the dip scheduled to take place starting at 2 p.m. Each year the event draws record crowds of both spectators and jumpers raising more than $85,000. The cost to participate is a $100 minimum donation to plunge and is open to anyone willing to brave the elements for a good cause. Free to spectators. The event will take place rain or shine (although organizers say it will be rescheduled if a major snow storm is forecast).

Registered participants will take a chilly full dive or a “Chicken Dip” – to raise funds for Camp Sunshine, a national year-round retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

The Virginia Polar Dip started in 2008 by the Toth family, after a long history with Camp Sunshine. They first attended Camp Sunshine as a participating family in 1996 when their daughter Jennifer was a cancer patient at age 3, and they have returned as volunteers every summer since. After Jennifer participated in a Camp Sunshine Polar Dip in New Jersey, her family decided to bring the event to Virginia in order to help more local families. Since 2008, 931 people have participated in the Virginia Polar Dip raising more than $395,000 for the camp. The camp organizes nine polar dips on the East Coast each year.

Saturday’s event in Reston will be emceed for the fifth year in a row by 97.1 WASH-FM morning show radio personality Chilli Amar.

Camp Sunshine is nestled alongside the shores of beautiful Sebago Lake and provides respite, support, joy and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families through various stages of a child’s illness.

This year’s goal in Reston is to raise $100,000, which will allow 50 families from the Mid-Atlantic area (including VA/MD/DC/DE/PA/WV/NC) to go to Camp Sunshine. Through pledges or self-sponsorship, each participant will raise/donate a minimum of $100 for the opportunity to plunge into the frigid waters, and will receive a commemorative “I DID IT” event T-shirt. Spectators are welcome to come and cheer for the plungers.

The event is sponsored by Lake Anne Plaza, Whole Foods Market – Reston, Reston Lifestyle Magazine, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, David Madison Photography, Reston Association, Reston Community Center, Spotted MP (Marketing + Public Relations), Kalypso’s Sports Tavern,Fairfax Christian School, 97.1 WASH-FM, Salon Khouri, Fusion 360, Small Change Consignment, and Sheraton Reston Hotel. For more information about the event or to register to participate, visit www.freezinforareason.com or become a Facebook Fan (Virginia Polar Dip) and view pictures from previous dips.

Keep up with the event on social media by following: @LakeAnnePlaza @GoCampSunshine #VirginiaPolarDip on Twitter.