Saturday, January 1st 2021 (WGME)— In it’s 34th year, Special Olympics Maine had nearly 400 people dip into the cold, 45 degree Fahrenheit, Atlantic Ocean to raise over $100,000 for the program.

“The success of the Lobster Dip each year is really crucial,” Director of Public Relations for Maine Special Olympics Lisa Bird, said. “It kind of sets the tone for the whole year and how things are going to go for our program.”

Last year, the event was virtual because of the pandemic and this year, participants were put into groups and sent into the frigid ocean every 15 minutes.

“We’re calling it organized chaos. It seems to be working. Knock on wood,” Bird said. “We’re very excited about the success and just having everyone back.”

Participants must fundraise $100 to jump in, but Sawyer Boulette and Blair Sharp’s team called “The Incredibles” did far more than raise that.

“We said, that’s really incredible because this is incredible. $25,000 is the most that that I’ve ever seen, since I’ve been doing it for five years,” Boulette, who is on the Maine Special Olympics Board of Directors, said.

This is the program’s first in-person fundraising event this year. Program directors say the pandemic may have changed the way they operate, but it didn’t stop them one bit.

“The pandemic spend a burden for a lot of people,” Boulette said. “So this this just shows how much people really believe in Special Olympics and the athletes.”

The program takes donations all year round. You can make one online through their website, or even start a fundraiser yourself.