Sunshine, temperatures in the mid-40s, and low winds. For a 5K dash on the Boardwalks of Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, and Bradley Beach, these are very nice numbers. For the splash into the ocean, another metric has to be taken into account: water temperature of 56, which for most people is below nice and comfy.
Over 1,100 participants came together on Saturday, November 15, for this year’s Thanks4Giving Dash & Splash, raising over $113,000 for Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ)! These funds enable SONJ to offer health, wellness, athlete leadership and Unified program initiatives, completely free of charge to thousands of athletes across the state.
The Dash long sleeve shirts and Splash hoodies, which were given at our 16 check-in stations, will be going home to 8 different states: that’s how geographically diverse the residences of our participants are.
Participants were able to choose to run the 5K, or to plunge into the ocean, or do both. The event started with the Dash, which led from Asbury Park through Ocean Grove to Bradley Beach and back. The youngest in the field of almost 600 dashers was 4 years old, while the oldest was 82.
After the Dash, hundreds of plungers showed their mettle and dove into the cold Atlantic Ocean. The field consisted of 323 splashers.
As part of the Unified Champion Schools Cool Schools Challenge (CSC), an additional 188 students and staff from 19 different schools joined the dash and splash. Through the CSC, schools raise funds for SONJ and their own school. Way to go students!
Top Fundraisers
Turkey Dash 5K
Individual: Judy Zoller
Team: Sweet Caroline
Turkey Splash
Individual: Paul Vicente
Team: Shore to Freeze
Cool Schools Challenge
Individual: Cory Baker
Team: Voorhees Unified Plungers
Next up – we continue into our 2026 Polar Bear Plunges in Wildwood and Seaside Heights!
A sincere thanks to our sponsors, without whom it would be impossible to hold events like this.
