St. Patty’s Day Marsh Madness! 200 jump into Blue Marsh to raise funds for Berks YMCA

Jesi Yost - Digital First Media
Bre with daughter Amelia, from Birdsboro with the Reading Derby Girls before taking the plunge for the first time at the YMCA Polar Bear Plunge at Blue Marsh Lake in Bern Township on March 17.
Jesi Yost - Digital First Media
The Avenger Family - Thor aka Joe Kotora with Spider-Man, Marcello Martinez, 15, and Captain America, Jovanny Epps, 4, at the Berks County YMCA Polar Bear Plunge was held at Blue Marsh Lake in Bern Township on March 17.
Jesi Yost - Digital First Media
The 12th Annual Berks County YMCA Polar Bear Plunge was held at Blue Marsh Lake in Bern Township on March 17.
Jesi Yost - Digital First Media
Representing Reading Area Community College, team “Looney Toons” at the YMCA Polar Bear Plunge at Blue Marsh Lake, Bern Township, March 17.
Jesi Yost - Digital First Media
Team Royko Go Bragh dress as Dr. Seuss characters to participate in the Berks County YMCA Polar Bear Plunge for the 4th year.
Jesi Yost - Digital First Media
From Shillington, Elite Leadership Martial Arts Academy students participate in the Reading and Berks County YMCA's Polar Bear Plunge for the 4th year.
Jesi Yost - Digital First Media The 12th Annual Berks County YMCA Polar Bear Plunge was held at Blue Marsh Lake in Bern Township on March 17.
Jesi Yost - Digital First Media
Representing Shillington's Reading Derby Girls: (back row) John, Highway Unicorn, Mandalyn Manson, Red Beet Baby, Nurse Wreck-It, Betty-Smack-Her, SSgt Smak-Her with Boston Pug Mix, Hadley (front) Dachshund Buster, Varsity Bruize, Spunky Bruiser, and AmandaSaurus Rex at the YMCA Polar Bear Plunge at Blue Marsh Lake, Bern Township, March 17.
Jesi Yost - Digital First Media
The 12th Annual Berks County YMCA Polar Bear Plunge was held at Blue Marsh Lake in Bern Township on March 17.

PUBLISHED: March 22, 2018 at 7:26 p.m. | UPDATED: August 22, 2021 at 3:16 a.m.

Digital First MediaMore than 200 plungers and 500 spectators gathered at Blue Marsh Lake in Bern Township for St. Patty’s Day Marsh Madness. The YMCA of Reading and Berks County hosted its 12th Annual Polar Bear Plunge on March 17 to raise funds for the community to participate in programs.

The YMCA hopes to raise $70,000 for their Changing Lives Annual Support campaign which provides financial assistance to children, families and seniors to allow them to participate in YMCA programs. No one is turned away from the Y for the inability to pay.

Anyone is welcome to participate, plungers range in age from 3 to 85. There were 23 teams signed up to take the plunge with 175 people pre-registered to plunge.

This event is always held on the closest Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. Two years ago, organizers had to chain saw through 12 inches of ice to get into the water.

The event includes a costume contest, YMCA swim team basket raffle, DJ, bagpiper and grilled breakfast sandwiches cooked by YMCA committee members, as well as appearances by legislators, including Rep. Mark Rozzi and his Chief of Staff Chad Schlanger, United Way of Berks County Senior VP of Community Impact Dr. Yamil Sanchez and Liz Sterner from Comcast.