Portland Polar Dip, Rescheduled Due to Ice Flores, Set for March 14 at East End Beach

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 (March 5, 2015) – The eighth annual Portland Polar Dip, which had to be rescheduled due to dangerous ice floes in Casco Bay, is now set for Saturday, March 14 at East End Beach in Portland.

Participants will plunge into the frigid waters of Casco Bay to raise money to help send more families to Camp Sunshine, 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. East End beach is located at the base of Portland’s Eastern Promenade. Registration begins at noon with the plunge set for 2 p.m.

The original Feb. 21 plunge date had to be pushed back due to the abundance of ice on and in the vicinity of East End Beach, which made entry into the water impossible.  

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