Despite the Ice, the Fishkill Polar Plunge Raises Record Amounts
by Oscar Fick
Six inches of ice and 39-degree weather was the recipe for a day at the beach for participants of the 21st annual Fishkill Polar Plunge. The event, which raises money every year for the New York Special Olympics, always features a diverse group of jumpers in jovial spirits who come together for the cause. This year was no exception.
Four members of the 105th Airlift Wing based out of Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York stole the show when they took the plunge in full uniform. “We like to help and support in any way that we can,” said Staff Sargent Jessica Clary. “They (Special Olympics NY) have come up to the wing and had hockey games and other events, so we all kind of feel a personal connection.”
The plunge was created by officer Chris Hamel 21 years ago. “He started with about six or seven people,” said the program director Teresa Gilli, who has been in charge for twelve years. “This year we are going to have over 500 participants.”
Each participant is required to raise at least 25 dollars for the Special Olympics in order to participate. There are incentives for people to raise more though. Anyone who raises over 100 dollars is given a polar plunge hoodie, which changes color each year. Also, each person that raises over 2,500 dollars is inducted into the Champions Club.
Another incentive is the “Cool School” challenge where schools compete to raise the most money. The winner gets to display the trophy for the year and decide what color the sweatshirts will be the next year. The Duchess Boces Teachers Association has earned this honor for the past four years in a row.
The fiercest competition is between groups to see who can raise the most money though, and the only incentive there is for bragging rights. That battle usually comes down to Callans Crew and Mahoney’s Irish Pub and Restaurant. “Last year Callans Crew raised almost 20,000 dollars and this year I think they are getting to that point this year,” said Gilli. “Mahoney’s Irish Pub and Restaurant always does a great job too.”
Despite being down a few participants this year compared to last year with 475 registered jumpers, Gilli expects the total amount raised to be higher than ever. “We’re expecting around 140 to 150 thousand total which should set a record for us. The real winners are the 68 thousand plus athletes in the state of New York who this money will go to benefit.”
The 21st installment of this jump presented a unique challenge though. The freezing rain and frigid nighttime temperatures of the week before the jump left the Sharpe Reservation completely frozen over. “They actually had to cut through the ice this year,” said Gilli. “There was about six inches of it covering the water. I don’t think it deterred anyone at all though.”
“It’s going to take a lot more than ice to keep us out of that freezing water,” said Clary as she prepared for her jump. “Though I suspect I’ll pay for those words in a second.”
