Fundraiser Participants Bracing for Frigid Ocean Plunge at Portland Polar Dip on Saturday at East End Beach in Portland

Freezin’ for a Reason event to raise money for Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind retreat in Casco, Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families

PORTLAND, Maine (February 16, 2015) – Participants in Saturday’s eighth annual Portland Polar Dip will plunge into the icy waters of Casco Bay to raise money to send more families to Camp Sunshine.

The Feb. 21 fundraising event will test the mettle of the polar plungers at Portland’s East End Beach, located at the base of the Eastern Promenade. Registration begins at 10 a.m. with the plunge set for noon.

Camp Sunshine is a one-of-a-kind national retreat in Casco for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The Portland Polar Dip partners with TeamRaiser, a popular online fundraising platform, to make it easier to participate. To donate online, form or join a team, visit http://www.freezinforareason.com  For more information, call (207) 655-3800.

Organizers have set a goal to raise $20,000 – enough to send 10 Maine families to Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org). Each participant who raises at least $100 in pledges for Camp Sunshine will receive an “I DID IT!” t-shirt.

“The reality of this event is that the discomfort the plungers feel for just a moment will never compare to what our families go through during the course of their child’s illness,” said Michael Smith, Camp Sunshine’s Director of Special Events.

Nestled alongside the shores of beautiful Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine, Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org) offers children with life-threatening illnesses and their families a place to relax together for a week and to take a break from the extraordinary demands placed on them on a daily basis.

The year-round program is free of charge and each session is staffed with the assistance of 80 volunteers.  It is the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a life-threatening illness on every member of the immediate family.

About Camp Sunshine
Camp Sunshine is a year-round retreat, which provides respite, support, joy, and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through various stages of a child’s illness. The program is free of charge to all families, and includes 24-hour on-site medical and psychosocial support. Bereavement groups are also offered for families who have lost a child to an illness. To support Camp Sunshine, call (207) 655-3800 or visit www.campsunshine.org.

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Here is more news and information about Camp Sunshine