Environmental group asks supporters to go for a dip. On New Year’s Eve. Outside.

Do you have your snorkels and swimsuits packed away? The Natural Resources Council of Maine wants backers to pull that gear out for one last fundraising hurrah, with the environmental advocacy group scheduling its annual Polar Bear Dip and 5K road race for Dec. 31 at Portland’s East End Beach.

Here’s the organization’s announcement:

Looking for a feel good adrenaline rush? Be bold in the cold with a plunge into the Atlantic and/or winter jaunt around Back Cove to support the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s work to reduce global warming pollution. The bone-chilling fun will take place at Portland’s East End on Saturday, Dec. 31, and the 5k finish line is at East End Beach for those who would like to walk or run and dip too.

Registration for the run begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Back Cove parking lot

NRCM Polar Bear Dip participants head into the water during last year's fundraiser event. (Submitted photo)

[across from Hannaford]. Registration for the Dip begins at 11:30 a.m. at East End Beach. The walk begins at 11, the run at 11:15, and the dip at noon – the “warmest” part of the day!

The run will be timed by 5k Sports Race Management and all runners or walkers will receive a custom bib to keep forever as a badge of honor. In addition, the first 200 to sign-up for the Dip, the Dash, or both will receive a commemorative water bottle.

The registration fee is $30 and friends and family can pledge to help raise money and awareness about global warming and what NRCM is doing right here in Maine to curb it.

The two top fundraisers will receive a snazzy Patagonia jacket and hand-made-in-Maine polar bear mug. The third place fundraiser will also receive a Patagonia jacket. The next eight fundraisers will receive hand-knit polar bear hats. And, the first male and first female to finish the 5k and the two best polar bear costumes will all receive hand-made polar bear mugs!

And, it will be fun, with folks in polar bear costumes, hot drinks, and pastries from Whole Foods.

To participate, register at http://supporters.nrcm.org/register.  Pledge online at http://supporters.nrcm.org/dipdash.

Local Maine businesses sponsoring the event are: WCLZ, Clynk, ReVision Energy, Delorme, Patagonia, Penobscot Home Performance, Portland Financial Planning Group, Spectrum Medical Group, Malley Weber, and Whole Foods Market.

Seth Koenig

About Seth Koenig

Seth has nearly a decade of professional journalism experience and writes about the greater Portland region.