Hamilton Lake 'Polar Bear Dip' set for New Year's Eve

HAMILTON LAKE, Ind. (WANE) The Hamilton Lions is sponsoring their 2nd Annual Jack D. Gibson Memorial Scholarship Polar Bear Dip.

The dip will take place on Monday December 31st (New Year's Eve) at 2 p.m. at Hamilton Lake's public beach.

Participants in the Dip are asked to register at the Hamilton Real Estate Office located just south of the beach.

Lion Bob Howard said over 300 people participated last year and he expects a crowd again this year.

Lions members will be distributing "Observers" Badges on Monday for donations to the scholarship fund.

Donations may also be sent to Hamilton Lions Club, P.O. Box 412, Hamilton, Indiana 46742. Checks should be made out to to : Hamilton Lions Club. Donations are not required to participate in the event.

For pledge forms and information contact Lion Bob Howard at: bdhoward1@yahoo.com , or 260-488-2357 or Lion Linda Gleason Lindagleason301@gmail.com or 260-668-4189.

From the Lion's Club:
Lion Jack Gibson fought a valiant fight with various ailments, finally succumbing to lung cancer on Friday August 19, 2011.  Lion Jack’s youngest son Troy urged him to take the first plunge in the inaugural event, and accompanied him nearly every year since.  Lion Jack took great pride in leading the annual plunge, even as recent years made the plunge more difficult for him. Troy has vowed to continue the tradition in his father’s memory.