Taking The Plunge

I know that every year people take the plunge into icy waters on New Year’s Day but I was just wondering what the motivation is to do something so risky. Do you have any information or insight on the issue?

Actually, the polar bear plunge is a long standing New Year’s tradition in Canada that has made a splash in the United States. There are clubs that are dedicated to taking the chilly dip in both Canada and the United States. Most clubs in Canada take the plunge on January 1st, as a type of cleansing of the old and a fresh, and somewhat hypothermic, start to the New Year. In the United States, the icy plunge is often associated with a fund raiser-a brisk dip for a good cause. Special Olympics and, most recently, the victims of Sandy have benefited from the event.