Hundreds Take the Polar and Penguin Plunge

ABC6 ^ | Jan 01, 2013 | John Guice

[nickcarraway]

While some people may have been sleeping after a night of celebrating,

hundreds got up early this morning and rushed into the chilly ocean waters.

The third annual Polar plunge in Fall River benefited the Forever paws animal shelter.

Fall river council woman Pat Casey took the plunge,not an easy feat for a young woman her age.she's seventy years young. She's been taking the plunge for three years. She's says, it's for a good cause.

At the Penguin plunge in Narrangansett,some people have been taking it for thirty years, one family I talked to says they're doing it in the memory of a loved one,who always supported Special Olympics.

Colleen elisias's brother, Richard Raftery,took the plunge for thirty six years for his special needs brother–in law.Raftery passed away. Colleen says,"it makes me sad that' he's gone, but it makes me very happy that we can do this in the memory of him".

The waters were cold ,but the hearts of the Polar and Penguin plungers were filled with warmth!

[HarleyD]

They use to do this on a frozen lake next to my mother-in-law. Every year the neighbors would saw the ice and people would jump in. That is, until a lawyer told the neighbors they could be liable.

[Doogle]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YiCemqXLwo

[OldPossum]

Fall river council woman Pat Casey took the plunge,not an easy feat for a young woman her age.she's seventy years young. She's been taking the plunge for three years. She's says, it's for a good cause.

Why not just mail in a check?

[GeronL]

Colleen says,"it makes me sad that' he's gone, but it makes me very happy that we can do this in the memory of him"

does she say that when she poops, eats, sleeps and walks outside everyday too?

'do this in memory of him'.... so silly

[SledgeCS]

I used to do the Boulder Polar Bear Plunge every year until I could no longer stand the thought of just driving to the People’s Republic of Boulder.

There were a couple of effects though, 1 good 1 not so good.

Good one: Instantly fully awake and sober no matter how much partying you did the night before.

Not so good one: EXTREME Seinfeld Turtle Syndrome. I do think that is where the term Wee Willie came from. The effected member of the male anatomy does have a mind of it's own and after jumping into 33-34 degree water will think the following for the day or so. “You want me to do what? Oh NO I remember what you did to me, I will stay in here where it is warm and hopefully that warm stream running down you leg, because I am on strike, will make you think about NOT doing that ever again.”

[irishtenor]

I did my first Polar Bear Plunge yesterday. Burien Washington, air temp 34, water temp 46.