Skip to Content
/ Articles / Community /

YMCA of Reading & Berks to Host Annual Marsh Madness Polar Bear Plunge

by YMCA of Reading & Berks County

Jan 28, 2020

Reading – On Saturday, March 14, 2020 the YMCA of Reading and Berks County will hold their annual St. Patty’s Marsh Madness event at Blue Marsh Lake. The “plunge for kids” begins with registration and a pre-plunge party at 10:00 AM. Participants will take the plunge at 11:00 AM.

This is the 14th year for the event which raises money for the YMCA’s For A Better Us Annual Support Campaign. The annual support campaign provides financial assistance to children and families who benefit most from the YMCA and its programs. No one is turned away from the YMCA regardless of their ability to pay. Last year’s event raised $73,000. The funds that were raised allowed the YMCA to send 116 children to summer day camp, allowed 142 children to participate in values based youth sport programs, and gave 196 teens the opportunity to become members of the teen leadership program.

The entire community is invited to be a part of the 2020 event. The community can participate by wearing crazy, zany costumes (no wet suits are allowed) and taking a quick plunge into the lake. Participants should pre-register online at https://www.firstgiving.com/event/35308/2020-St-Patty-Day-Marsh-Madness by March 10. T-Shirts will be awarded to everyone who raises at least $50. Community members who don’t want to brave the cold water can still participate by competing for the “What? Are you kidding me?” award which is presented to the person who raises the most money without taking the cold dip into Blue Marsh. The event will conclude with light food, refreshments and awards immediately following the plunge at the Sinking Spring Family YMCA.

We need your support!

Your contribution makes community media possible.

A donation of any size to your nonprofit media organization supports the future of media access in our community - the things you love, and the places you care about, by the people you know.

Live Streaming