“Freezing our bodies, warming our hearts. Fighting cancer one jumper at a time” is the theme of Portage Lakes Polar Bear Club’s ninth annual Polar Bear Jump, planned for 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at Portage Lakes State Park, 5031 Manchester Road, New Franklin. This is exactly what it sounds like. Divers — as brave as they come — make a big splash into the frigid lake. Registration is 12:30 p.m. with a $25 minimum cost to take a dive. For more information, please visit www.portagelakespolarbearclub.com. More participants are needed.The event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, will benefit Camp Quality USA/Ohio and Stewart’s Caring Place, a local cancer wellness center.At the very least come and cheer on the participants. They deserve a warm hand.Fundraiser for family First Christian Church of Cuyahoga Falls is reaching out with love and support for a local family whose baby was born last fall with Prader-Willi syndrome and a whole host of special needs.A spaghetti dinner/silent auction called “Supper 4 Sammy” is planned for 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at Cuyahoga Falls High School cafeteria, with all proceeds going to assist with Sammy’s medical costs. If you’ve ever known a person with Prader-Willi syndrome, you know what an uphill battle it is. As teens and young adults, those with Prader-Willi are morbidly obese, leading others to jump to the conclusion that they just overeat. While that’s true, they have no control and as a result will do almost anything to get food. The syndrome is caused by a gene missing on part of Chromosome 15. In newborns, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Prader-Willi is characterized by small size for gestational age, genitals that are not well developed, problems nursing or swallowing, floppiness like a rag doll, and a weak cry. Later they develop an intense craving for food, resulting in uncontrollable weight gain, all sorts of health problems and early death.Tickets for the fundraiser are $10 adults; $5 children ages 4 through 12; children 3 and under are free. For reservations, please call the church at 330-928-4098. Help arrives • The power wheelchair that Canal Fulton’s Pat Beatty offered through my column is going home with a worthy candidate.She’s 59-year-old Summer Batties of Akron, who worked for the Akron Board of Education before suffering three strokes and brain surgery. Her urgent need was trumpeted by former colleague Cindi Robbins of Akron, who also made arrangements to pick up the chair.• Barb Beamer of Canton, who wrote about her pressing need for a motorized chair, is receiving a three-wheeled battery-operated scooter from Mary Westerfield from Cuyahoga Falls.“I have multiple sclerosis and other mobility problems — knee and hip replacements, the hip replacement went wrong and I have muscle loss in that hip/thigh. I am unable to walk any distance, which prevents me from participating in many activities that I would love to be a part of. I cannot shop because they do not offer electric scooters. I cannot go to places such as the Hartville Flea Market or the West Side Market in Cleveland … I can no longer enjoy the county fair. My mobility issues have made me fairly homebound. …“Medicaid determines that you be dependent upon a power chair or scooter 24/7 in order to qualify for them to pay for one. With my MS and other health issues, I have tried very hard to stay out of a wheelchair. I still want to walk, but sometimes that’s not possible. I do not want to have to depend on having someone available to push me in a regular wheelchair as I feel it is an imposition. My husband has health issues of his own, so I really feel bad when I have to ask him to push me, but sometimes no one else is available.”• Please know that Tri-County Independent Living in Akron is a wonderful source of help for persons living with physical disabilities.Its purpose, as outlined in its literature, is “to assist people with significant disabilities to live independently and to serve the community at large by helping to create an environment that is accessible to all through technical assistance and systemic advocacy.”The latter is accomplished by serving as “a referral for inquiries on housing, transportation, housing modifications, durable medical equipment, disability benefits and nursing home transition.” Please call 330-762-0007. Baby clothing available Akron Stork’s Nest — located inside South Arlington United Methodist Church at 790 S. Arlington St. — is offering baby clothing to mothers-to-be or those with infants who attend its parenting or prenatal classes. Free child care and refreshments are provided.The topic at the 11 a.m. Jan. 21 class is the March of Dimes Resource Center, presented by Constance S. Motter, a nurse in the genetic center at Akron Children’s Hospital. For more information, please call 330-962-5846 or 234-206-1920 and ask for Cheryl. These Monsters not scaryThe Lake Erie Monsters hockey team will welcome the families, friends and supporters of the Eastern Ohio chapter of the Pajama Program to Quicken Loans Arena at 7:30 p.m. March 24, when they take on the Toronto Marlies. A portion of every ticket sold will be donated to the Pajama Program, whose mission is to provide warm sleepwear and nurturing books to children in need. Advance tickets are $15, $12 (cash or check at the event) with a donation of new pajamas and/or a new children’s book. The $12 tickets with donations must be made to Patty Gillespie, Eastern Ohio chapter president of the Pajama Program, at First Congregational Church, 292 E. Market St., Akron. Other tickets can be ordered online at http://groups.theqarena.com/pajamaprogram/ Also, the Monsters, in support of breast cancer survivors, are challenging game attendees that evening to “Pink the Rink” by wearing pink. The ice will be tinted pink and Monsters jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds going to charity.Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com