Freezin’ For a Reason in Fishkill

Polar Plunge participants wait in the long line, many soaked, for the bus out of the park. Photo by Jennifer Newman.
Polar Plunge participants wait in the long line, many soaked, for the bus out of the park.
Photo by Jennifer Newman.

More than 600 costumed participants jumped into the frigid waters of Sharpe Reservation on Saturday, Feb. 22 for the 16th Annual Fishkill Polar Plunge.

Plungers wore a variety of colorful costumes from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to mermaids. They took the plunge to raise money for the Hudson Valley region of Special Olympics New York.

Teams with names like The Point Plungers, from The U.S. Military Academy, and the Frosted Flakes had matching outfits and jumped in groups as many as three at a time. The boldest among them went all the way under.

Despite the warmer than usual air temperature, the waist deep water was measured to be an icy 32 degrees, according to Fishkill Polar Plunge founder Chris Hamel.  It showed in the plunger’s faces as they scrambled for the shore.

“It’s so cold that you lose your breathe,” said team Paw Patrol plunger Amanda Evans of Danbury Conn.

“Getting out is the worst part, once the air hits you…” said Evans’s team mate Theresa Miller.

Members of Paw Patrol have been plunging since the event’s third year.

Town of Poughkeepsie police detective and long-time Special Olympics supporter Chris Hamel organized the first Fishkill Polar Plunge in 1998. It had just 17 plungers.

This year marked the largest turnout yet, beating last year by over 100 participants, according to Director of Development for the Hudson Valley region Teresa Gilli.

“It’s great,” Gilli said, “we’re seeing more people each year.”

Fundraising events like the plunge are crucial so Special Olympic events can be cost free to the athletes and their families.

Hamel explained, “The athletes are why we do this.”

 

 

Julio Olivencia

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