Polar Bear Club jumping for Loudermilk New Year’s Day
The 15th Fort Myers Beach Polar Bear Dip will take place on New Year’s Day for a good cause. The proceeds will help local server Jesse Loudermilk, a Fort Myers Beach resident and restaurant server battling cancer.
The event will start at noon and last through 5 p.m. at the Outrigger Beach Resort on 6200 Estero Blvd. The actual jump into the water begins at 2:30 p.m.
In 2007, Loudermilk was diagnosed with tumors surrounding his vertebrae and has undergone multiple surgeries, radiation treatments, and MRIs, said event co-organizer Ed Herbert. During 2010, more surgery was required and treatments continued. In 2018, he was again diagnosed with a cancerous mass on his spine and continues treatment and monitoring with Florida Cancer Specialists.
“He’s just a wonderful person that everybody knows and loves on the beach,” Herbert said.
The Polar Bear Dip is partnering with the Doris Hale Nursing Scholarship Fund which awards scholarships to nurses/caregivers, to help distribute the funds raised from the event.
Parking will be available directly across the street at Charley’s Boathouse Grill. Food and beverages are available for purchase throughout the day. In addition, there will be entertainment provided by local musicians including Smokin Bill and the Smokin Section along with Megan Rose.
Both a silent Auction and a Chinese Auction along with a 50/50 will be available for the benefit. Beach bags, T-shirts, caps and koozies will be available for purchase.
The march of the Polar Bears into the Gulf of Mexico will begin at 2:30 pm in front of the resort as the theme song repeats all the way to the water. Herbert said the temperature of the water will be taken before there is a call to head into the ocean. More than 200 people jumped into the water last year, he said.
The event originally started 15 years ago as a parody on the “Northern Polar Bear Dips,” Herbert said.
Herbert said the organization made a decision several years ago to make the Polar Bear Dip into a charity event and not just a fun day. “Let’s do it for a purpose,” he said.