From the veteran plungers to the first-timers, one sentiment was equally shared – the temperature of the water was warmer than the air – at least until they exited the water and faced not only the 21-degree air, but faced it dripping wet.
WESTFIELD – More than 150 men, women and children left common sense on the shore Saturday as they jumped into the icy waters of Hampton Ponds on a bitterly cold day to raise funds for the Amelia Park Children’s Museum.
Diana L. McClean, president of the organization’s board of directors, said she could not yet put a number on the total amount raised for charity through pledges each human penguin received, but organizers went into the event with a lofty goal of $40,000, $30,000 more than was raised last year.
“We set a really high goal this year,” she said. “I don’t know yet if we achieved that goal, but everything we raise is for the museum operating budget to basically keep our doors open.”
Of one thing she is sure; the number of participants for this year’s Ninth Annual Penguin Plunge nearly doubled the amount of plungers who turned previously.
“We are very happy with the show of support and appreciate the community getting behind us,” McClean said.
From the veteran plungers to the first-timers, one sentiment was equally shared – the temperature of the water was warmer than the air – at least until they exited the water and faced not only the 21-degree air, but faced it dripping wet.
“The water was warmer than the air,” said Brittany L. Hutchison, of Westfield, a member of Team Lemur who took the plunge Saturday for the fifth consecutive year. “This was definitely the coldest year.”
Makayla L. Tyler, of Westfield, also a member of Team Lemur, said her first motivation for jumping into the numbingly cold water was to prove others wrong.
“No one thought I would really do it,” she said. “But I’d still do it again. It’s for a good cause.”
Her thoughts on the below-freezing temperature? “This was bad, this was really bad.”
Team Lemur was led by perennial plunger Rich Barry, uncle of Brittany Hutchison and her little sister, Ashley R. Hutchison, 10, who said she braved the cold weather and water at the request of Barry.
“I was scared at first when I was walking to the water – I was just standing there freezing. I even started to cry, but I did it.”
For Lynne I. Clarke and her daughter, Kayla C. L. Artz, taking the plunge was not only a way to support the children’s museum, but to celebrate Artz’s birthday. This year marked the sixth year of taking the Penguin Plunge for both women.
“Doing this is like having a baby,” Clarke observed. “Once it’s done, you forget about the pain.”
The title of “Penguin Excelsior” was awarded to plunger Charles Kelly of Webster's Flowers, for raising the most money as an individual, while Team Lemur collected about $2,000 for the charity.
For being the group that raised the most money, Team Lemur was awarded a frozen yogurt sundae party sponsored by MoFroYo Frozen Yogurt, of Westfield, although the team had no plans to cash in on that prize anytime soon.