Auction Sets the Stage for February’s Polar Bear Jump

By SARAH ROBERTS
MILFORD

The doors open at 12:30 p.m. this Saturday, January 25, for the annual auction preceding February’s Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump. The auction will take place at Milford Central School, 42 West Main Street, Milford, and will feature a variety of goods and services. All proceeds will be put toward the cost of food, t-shirts and paperwork for the jump next month.

The Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump is an annual fundraising event organized by Brenda and Jamie Waters to help local children and adults in need, “one jump in Goodyear Lake at a time.” In the 27 years that the event has taken place, more than 250 recipients have been helped by jumpers. This year’s recipients are: Emily Bennett, Sadie Dutcher, Matthew Elthorp, Alexander Hodge Jr., Adlee Kellerhouse, Cordelia Mae Morgan, Rostlyn Parslow, and Claire Smith, as well as Hopeful Hearts, the Milford Fire Department and Milford EMT.

Jumpers who raise over $100.00 receive a t-shirt and food after the jump, which is followed by an awards banquet at the Oneonta Elks Club. The auction ahead of time offsets the cost of these awards and allows for 100 percent of the money raised by the jumpers to go toward the pool of money to be split between the recipients.

“We expect between 200-300 participants. It varies by year,” said Brenda Waters, who added, “Almost every local business—meaning within an hour radius of the lake—who’ve been asked, have donated money, time, references…All of the recipients of previous years have usually come to help, too.”

Precautions are taken seriously by the organizers, to make sure the jumpers remain safe as they swim in freezing or near-freezing temperatures.

“Everyone has to go through me,” Waters said, explaining that she tells swimmers to come in layers and proper footwear, and to enjoy the warm food and drink offered and use the hot tub afterward to bring their body temperatures back up.

Waters also mentioned some new developments this year, designed to allow those who do not feel up for the whole swim to participate in any way that they can. This includes a “dare to dip” option, in which those who don’t want to fully submerge can “dip their toes” in the water. There will also be a halfway marker this year, so those who wish to can do half of the swim.

“It started out as a fun thing that became very serious,” Waters said, “and we take it very seriously. People do it because it’s the ‘least they can do.’ Being uncomfortable for a moment makes them feel like they are contributing with a real personal challenge.”

Waters also said that it is not only the locals who partake in the Polar Bear Jump. People from all over the country and world travel to participate—past jumpers have hailed from Colorado, Florida and Australia, among other locales.

Last year’s Polar Bear Jump raised around $180,000.00 dollars, Waters said, with 223 jumpers. The cumulative funds raised in the last 27 years is estimated to be more than $2 million.

This year’s jump will be held on Saturday, February 15. Those who would like to participate as a swimmer must call (607) 286-7101 first—for important safety and logistical information, and to receive a password to download jumper packets, including sponsor sheets and other information. Those interested in volunteering are also encouraged to reach out.

Donations are still being sought for the January 25 Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump Auction, including corporate donations, and the public is encouraged to attend. The entrance fee for the auction is $3.00 for those over the age of 12; those 12 and under are admitted free. In addition to the auction, there will also be raffles and concessions. Items to be auctioned include grills, massages, hotel stays, themed baskets, a lottery tree and more.

As the date of this year’s Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump approaches, all interested are encouraged to watch the website, pbjump.com, for updates and information, and to join the Facebook page.

Waters commends those who take the plunge.

“I am in awe of everyone who jumps. It is super selfless and courageous. I never feel like we do enough for them,” she said. “They never [ask for] anything.”

Those wishing to donate to the cause without having to brave the icy waters or the frigid temperatures can do so by sending checks made payable to Goodyear Lake Polar Bears to PO Box 298, Milford, NY 13807.