Costumes, cold water and a cause: Wrightsville Plunge rings in 2026 with record turnout
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY-TV) – It’s News Years Day – a time that represents hope and new beginnings. On Thursday, more than a thousand people, including two reporters from WWAY, started off 2026 by taking a plunge into the Atlantic Ocean at the 11th Annual Wrightsville Plunge.
Leeann Zierenberg, Jill Watson and DeeDee Greene celebrated their fourth year plunging in a unique costume.
“We are Avatars, we are the good guys,” Zierenberg said.
WWAY joined in on the fun – and bitter cold. WWAY’s Kinsey Rothenberger and myself (Kamy Smelser) faced our fear of the cold, 52-degree weather.
Both Rothenberger and I survived the frigid waters and all for a good cause.
The annual event benefits Communities in Schools of Cape Fear. All funds raised from Thursday’s event will support the organization’s academic help, after-school programs, mental health support and more for local under-resourced students.
Kendell Englehart, communication manager for the organization said they saw their biggest turn out so far this year.
“This one event actually $60-70,000 which raises enough money for an entire school site that we serve, so it’s a huge deal,” Englehart said.
For the avatars, it hold a special place in their hearts to support the plunge.
“We all are mothers so, you know, there’s a lot of teachers that we know who don’t have the supplies that we need,” Zierenberg said.
