The frigid water of Deer Lake will be active Saturday as thrill-seekers take a dip to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The sixth annual Deer Lake Polar Plunge will be held at 1 p.m., with registration to begin at 11 a.m. at Deer Lake & West Brunswick Township Fire Company. Plungers are asked to raise $50 to participate and will receive a free official event T-shirt. The event is hosted by Auburn VFW Warriors softball team.
Plungers must sign a waiver to participate, regardless of age. Participants under the age of 18 must also have a parent’s signature.
The all-day event, including the plunge and a Chinese auction, will begin at 10 a.m. with breakfast at Deer Lake Pub.
Denna Krammes, event organizer and softball team captain, said the Deer Lake Polar Plunge has been growing every year since it began in 2011. That year, the event raised $4,000. She said last year’s plunge raised $12,000.
“Every year we want to top that,” she said.
Krammes said the number of participants will not be known until after registration, but they have built a consistent amount of plungers over the years.
“Every year we have probably 60. That’s usually what the rough estimate is,” Krammes said, adding more people come out to watch.
Hot food and beverages, including soup, hot dogs and hamburgers, will be available for plungers and spectators.
Prizes will also be awarded to plungers who dress in costume. A $100 gift card to Deer Lake Pub will be given to the best dressed group and a $50 gift card for the restaurant will be awarded to the best individual costume. The softball team will vote on the winners.
The Chinese auction will be held at 3 p.m. at the fire company. Krammes said items to be auctioned off include a necklace from Murphy Jewelers, woodwork from local vendors, toolbox from Lowe’s and gift baskets from local businesses. She said Gordon Food Services donated a big ticket item this year — a prize of foods and sauces, including steak and lobster.
Krammes said a shop and drop will be held at the fire company’s social hall from 6 to 8 p.m. today for people who cannot attend the plunge to look at the auction items.
After the auction, the event will move to Deer Lake Pub for an after-party and chili cook-off. Musical entertainment will be provided by Christine Havrilla.
“She has a huge following. I drove to Cleveland, Ohio, to see her, so she is pretty popular,” Krammes said.
She said a trunk of cheer will also be auctioned off at the restaurant.
In addition, Deer Lake Pub and Niagara Bottling Co. donated $500 each to the cause.
Other business sponsors include The Cake Pros, Anytime Fitness, Primitive Treasures, MBC Development LP, Progressive Pediatric Therapy, Miller Bros. Construction and Russo’s Pizza Den.
For more information, call Krammes at 570-640-0439.