Participants can take a New Year’s Day plunge in Corpus Christi Bay to raise funds for ALS research, with prizes for top fundraisers and teams.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Start 2026 with a splash at the annual Polar Bear Plunge and Run at North Beach, benefiting the ALS Therapy Development Institute.
The event kicks off today at 11 a.m., with on-site registration at 10:45 a.m. at Fajitaville, 221 S. Hotel Place.
Participants will run along the North Beach beach walk and take a plunge in Corpus Christi Bay to raise awareness and funds for ALS, a neurological disorder that affects motor neurons.
Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraising team and the individual who raises the most.
Organizer Alissa Mejia started the event 11 years ago after her father was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. “It’s a disease that currently doesn’t have a cure or even a great treatment. It’s fatal, and it just felt like doing something,” Mejia said. She added that the event brings the community together and is also a lot of fun.
As of Thursday, 200 participants had signed up, with a goal to raise $150,000 in the event’s history. Donations can also be made online to support ALS research.
Mejia encourages everyone to join the warm-up fun run along the beach starting at 11:15 a.m., calling it a great way to kick off the new year with movement and community spirit.
To make a donation online, click here.
To learn about the Corpus Christi Polar Bear Plunge, click here.