Organizers are hoping for a large turnout this year, since the January “polar bear” swim did not take place.

SILVER CREEK — Silver Creek’s normal polar bear swim not happening in January like it normally does meant that charities like Oishei Children’s Hospital are without some money they’d normally get. Because of that, Pamela Forge, the editor of the Explore NY Website, said a lot more emphasis is now being put on the summer’s “polar bear” swim. This swim will take place at Cabana Sam’s on Aug. 26.

“We figured it was kind of a fun thing, and another fun way to raise money for charity,” Forge said. “Since we couldn’t hold a swim because of COVID, this was an easy way to do it with the beach. No one is indoors so people should feel more comfortable. It’s nice we can do it at Cabana Sam’s, because they already have a band. It’ll have fewer activities than the winter one, but it’ll still be fun.”

The summer swim has been going on for the last couple years, starting when the Buffalo Bills broke the playoff drought in 2017. The winter swim had a lot fewer donations that year, and they needed to pay off a clinic room they had sponsored at Oishei. Even though they had two years to pay it off, Forge said she wanted it paid off quicker than that.

“My co-chair swims in January, but there’s no way I’ll do that,” Forge said. “I just make sure everything runs smoothly, that’s usually what I stick to. I thought well, I’ll swim in August.”

That event ended up paying off the room, but the group had so much fun they decided they’d just do it every year. This year, the bigger push is to try and get Oishei Hospital a Mother Baby Unit, which costs $8,400. While Forge hopes that August’s swim will pay for the whole thing, there is the contingency plan of putting whatever money is raised toward it, then raising the rest in January.

For the swim, swimmers who wish to participate will generate pledges for the jump into Lake Erie. While the jump comes at less stakes with it not being in frigid waters, Forge is hoping there are more swimmers like her who will come out for the August swim. There is a minimum of $15 required for pledges. Typically, the event gets about 25-30 swimmers, Forge is really hoping for a bigger turnout.

I’m signed up, and so is my co-chair,” Forge said. “Everybody comes on the day of the swim. We have no idea how many swimmers we’ll have. They’re collecting pledges up until the swim, we just ask them to bring them with them.”

Registration for the event begins at 5 p.m., while the swim starts at 6:30. The event includes extended Happy Hour (two for one drinks) from 4 p.m. until 9 pm., while Tom Bender will provide music from 7-11. There will also be awards given to the best dressed swimmer and the swimmer who generates the most pledges. The event is also open to swimmers of all ages.

Pledge sheets can be downloaded from the Cabana Sam’s Facebook Page or picked up at Cabana Sam’s. Additionally, you can email Pamela Forge at pforge@exploreny.net or call at 716-430-3775.