Organizers of Port Angeles’ 30th annual Polar Bear Dip on Jan. 1 said it was the best attended Polar Bear Dip in the event’s history.

“The place was packed,” said Dan Welden, one of the founders of the event, adding that there were even more people in the crowd watching. “It was a good day for the Polar Bear Dip and a good day for hospice.”

It’s the sixth consecutive year that the dip serves as a fundraiser for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County. He said funds had yet to be counted, but there was already “over $2,000 to begin with,” he said. “It’s going to be well over that.”

Last year the fundraiser raised “just short of $2,000,” he said.

This year marks Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County’s 40th year. The organization has 175 volunteers and 10 nurses serving 120 patients as well as others in a grief support program. All services are provided free of charge.