Plunge or spray? Only the weather conditions will determine the answer. Although the format may change due to environmental factors — as happened in past years when the waters of the Hudson River became too dangerous and the plunge turned into a “polar spray” under the hoses of local fire crews — the motivation that brings together brave participants and curious observers in Peekskill remains the same: to support the scholarship fund that turns adversity into opportunity.
The 13th annual Polar Plunge, organized by This Is Me Foundation, will be held on Jan. 1, 2026. The event will begin at 12 p.m. at Riverfront Green. The expectation is to bring together dozens of participants willing to brave the cold or, if weather conditions prevent it, to stand under streams of water from a fire department truck in support of the charitable cause.
Since its beginnings in 2013, when only 11 people entered the frigid Hudson River and raised just over 2,400 dollars, the event has grown in both the number of participants and its social impact. Today, frozen footprints on the water’s edge have turned into thousands of dollars for scholarships and hundreds of stories of community support.
For example, at the tenth annual event, more than a hundred brave participants took the plunge and succeeded in raising around 25,000 dollars for scholarships aimed at both local students who have faced adversity and young people across the country living with alopecia, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss.
The impact of this event cannot be measured by numbers alone. The community of Peekskill and surrounding areas findsin the Polar Plunge a tradition to begin the year with purpose. In 2025, nearly 140 people gathered not to plunge into the river— due to unsafe conditions after a storm— but to be sprayed by water from the fire department’s hoses while the public applauded and made donations. More than 21,000 dollars were raised, approaching the 27,000 dollar goal set by the organization.
The success of the Polar Plunge is also reflected in the growth of the scholarships sponsored by This Is Me Foundation. Since 2012, the fund has awarded more than 170 scholarships of 500 dollars each to both students in Westchester County and national recipients who have demonstrated resilience or who live with alopecia, a central focus of the foundation’s mission.
The foundation was created by sisters Caitlin and Lauren Brady, who both lived with alopecia during their school years and decided to channel that experience into a message of empowerment and support for others. Their first initiative was a video posted in 2011 aimed at raising awareness of the condition and encouraging others to confront challenges with dignity.
Over time, the focus expanded. The scholarships, inspired by the memory of Ryan Risco and Cait Chivonne Polhill , two close friends who passed away, seek to recognize young people who have demonstrated leadership and resilience in overcoming adversity or in supporting others through challenging times.
In this new edition, donations, registrations and the support of local organizations will once again consolidate a collective effort that transcends a winter tradition. For more information on how to participate, contact the organization, which has set Dec. 30 as the registration deadline.
