It was a day only a polar bear would love.
Frigid blasts of wind whipped off the frozen crust of Lake Erie, last week as snowflakes fell fast and furious, often “falling sideways” in the wind.
But still, in bikinis, shorts, swimsuits and Mardi Gras beads, the people came to the 2010 Law Enforcement Polar Bear Plunge at Breakwater Beach in Geneva-on-the-Lake to jump in and jump out of the freezing water.
The plunge was a success, organizer Sharon Bradley said, despite the “absolutely, miserably cold conditions.”
The event raised more than $118,000 for Ohio Special Olympics, Bradley said.
“It was so cold I though for sure no one would come,” she said. “I just kept thinking that the whole plunge would be a big flop. We have never had weather so bad, but people really came out to take that ice cold jump.”
“I guess if you cut the hole in the ice, they will come,” she said.
Bradley said 400 people braved the cold, including more than 150 high school students from Edgewood, Mentor, Lakeside, Geneva, Jefferson, Conneaut, Madison, Perry and SS. John and Paul.
Three “super plungers” signed on to take the plunge eight times in eight hours.
Kolman Fuzy of Columbus won the 2010 Harley Davidson raffle.
Bradley said donations were down slightly from last year, but the event raised a lot of money given the snowy weather.
Plunge organizers are still collecting donations toward the 2010 total, Bradley said.
“We had 83 people who were registered but didn’t show up for the plunge,” she said. “We have extra shirts and goodie bags, so anyone who sends in their registration money can still get their prizes.”
For more information on making additional donations or collecting a goodie bag, contact Sharon Bradley at 993-1201.
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Cut a hole in the ice and they will come
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