Today’s Virtual Polar Plunge may have looked a little different, but the outcome was nothing short of extraordinary.

Despite the cancellation of the in-person plunge due to winter weather, supporters from across the community showed up in a big way — raising $165,000 to support Special Olympics athletes across South Carolina.

“We knew it would be a little unusual,” said Erik Karney, “but it turned out to be absolutely wonderful. The support we saw today — from people plunging at home, posting videos, donating, and cheering one another on — was incredible.”

Participants embraced the spirit of the event by completing virtual plunges, sharing photos and videos on social media, and encouraging friends and family to donate — proving once again that the Polar Plunge is about heart, not just cold water.

Marcus, one of the event organizers, echoed that sentiment.

“Today showed exactly what this community is about,” he said. “Even with the threat of snow and safety concerns keeping us off the beach, people still showed up for our athletes. That says everything.”

Looking Ahead to 2027

With another successful year in the books, excitement is already building for what comes next.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated, donated, and supported this year,” Marcus added. “We’re already looking ahead to 2027 — and we fully expect it to be the biggest and best Polar Plunge yet.”

Final fundraising totals will be announced soon, along with details for next year’s event.

🎽 T-Shirt Pickup Information

Individual donors who earned a Polar Plunge T-shirt can pick it up at:

The Deck at Ocean Annie’s
📍 9550 Shore Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
🕙 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Virtual Polar Plunge a success. Even when the weather changed our plans, it never changed our purpose.

💙❄️ We hope you did your virtual plunge today — and we’ll see you in 2027!