The Cold And Snow Couldn't Stop The Plunge!

Local Residents Dove Into The Bay To Support Special Olympics

By Jennifer Beegle
Taking the Plunge can leave you with thrills and chills. This was especially true for the 12,000 people who dove into the shockingly icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay at Sandy Point State Park on the last Saturday in January to raise money for the Maryland Special Olympics.
Temperatures were frigid, only reaching into the low 30s, very close to freezing. The snow from a storm that occurred earlier in the week still blanketed the ground, but the harsh weather did not stop the 16,000 attendees who gathered at the festivities to support friends and family members taking the Plunge.

The event began at 9:30am with tailgating and throughout the day there were exhibits to amuse the crowd. There were tents offering live entertainment, caricatures, sand sculptures, food, drinks, and shopping. There were also men and women on stilts, mimes with painted faces, and balloon sculpting magicians parading along the sandy beaches right next to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
After hours of listening to music and wandering around the giant heated tents, the divers were ready to jump into the icy waters.
“This is my first time taking the plunge. I made the $50 donation, and I was so excited to jump in for the Special Olympics,” said Michael Granger, a newcomer to the Polar Bear Plunge.
Plungers were dressed in bikinis, scuba gear, shorts, oversized coats, bathing suits, and robes. There were also people who got a little more creative with their choice of wardrobe and wore giant hats, body paint, and even a penguin suit. Granger wore a giant fuzzy purple and pink hat as he plunged into the frigid Bay.
“It was cold. It was like daggers going through your skin. But I had my party hat on and ran into the water with it twice,” said Granger afterward. “Even if it was 10 degrees colder it would still be fun. Diving into the water was the best, and it’s great knowing you were doing it to raise money for the Special Olympics.”
A few celebrities decided to join the Polar Bear Plunge this year. Ravens QB Joe Flacco, DJ Pauly D, County Executive John Leopold, and Governor Martin O’Malley were all there to express their enjoyment with the festivities and motivation to raise money for a good cause.
DJ Pauly D, from the reality television show Jersey Shore, excited the crowd by playing loud mixes of music.
Governor O’Malley was there to show his support for Maryland Special Olympics, stating, “The event is an excellent tradition that inspires many to do something good for a truly worthy cause.”
Joe Flacco took the Plunge, diving in head first. Flacco, along with Edgewater resident Rosa Marcellino, were co-chairs of this year’s event. Flacco even escorted young Rosa, the inspiration behind “Rosa’s Law,” during her Plunge.

One plunge may have been enough for Flacco, but it was not enough for a group of 60 men and women known as “Super Plungers,” who incredibly accounted for a total of 24 plunges each. This unique group endures the jump in the icy water once an hour for 24 hours.
At the end of the day’s diving, there was only one incident that caused a participant to seek medical assistance; a significant improvement over last year when medics were called several times due to injuries related to alcohol impairment. This year’s event was alcohol free, but the fun-factor was still high despite the lack of spirits.
People of all ages are welcome to join in the fun at the Polar Bear Plunge; however, participants under age 18 need a signed consent form from a guardian. In addition, plunge participants were required to raise at least $50 before they could dive into the water. Major sponsors of the event included Aerotek and Comcast.
You can view additional photos of the Polar Bear Plunge at our gallery page. Be sure to comment on your favorites, and post your own Plunge photos on our Facebook page!