The sun was hanging in the sky over Mattapoisett on New Year’s Day 2018 as a hail and hearty group of polar plungers and their supporters gathered at the Mattapoisett Town Beach for the annual charity event Freezin’ For A Reason.
In spite of record-cold temperatures, ocean water recorded at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and a dusting of snow on the beach sand, the plungers were joyful. Where other organizations had called off similar events in the local area, event coordinators the Huggins family decided it was all systems go.
And what a party it was in the hour leading up to testing good intentions against actual grit when the start gun would blast at high noon.
Reggae music boomed across the frozen landscape. Small children layered in winter gear attempted to make sandcastles, as other kids used the tideline ice sheet as a sledding hill minus the sleds.
The Wolf Moon tide cycle had left behind yards of frozen mud flats, causing some of the participants to wonder if it made more sense to leave their gear closer to the water’s edge than up on the drier sandy beach. Such were the considerations being bantered about outside the heated event tent.
Inside the tent, hot drinks and chowder warmed all, but as the moments ticked down, resolve to “just do this” was the heated sentiment.
There were the first-timers, those who had chosen this day to help fill the charity’s war chest against the unseen costs associated with a diagnosis of cancer, and there were those who made participation in the event part of their holiday cheer.
Eric Gebo, 24, of Fairhaven, Jeffrey Lopez, 20, Mattapoisett, Arlene Marini, ‘ageless’, Mattapoisett, Jasmine Burns, 15, of Westport were all first-time plungers. Each expressed their desire to test their mettle against the weather and to raise awareness for the cause.
Lopez, with his one-man support crew of Dad, aka Michael Lopez, may have had another reason. As his father explained, “Jeff has been fixated on doing this since last year when we came down to watch it.”
The younger Lopez and his family understand that challenges come in all varieties as he and his family has been touched by autism. “Jeff is proud of his autism and he is an outspoken advocate for others,” his dad said.
Burns, flanked by friends Erica Cecil and 15-year-old son Elijah Neal, both of Rochester, wore a bit of a worried expression, but more on this young lady later.
Bryan Calusine of Westport, Dennis McIntyre of Mattapoisett, Chris Gray of Mattapoisett, Dave Rickson of Mattapoisett, Trevor Oliveria of Fairhaven, and Brian Claudio from Freetown were all ready to go as returning plungers.
Calusine, whose parents Bill and Marsha live in Mattapoisett, said this was his fourth year and beamed that he was glad to do it for a good cause. McIntyre said, “We love this town and this cause…. We’ve lost family to cancer.”
Claudio said, “My son was diagnosed with a brain tumor,” as he prepared for the fourth year in a row to jump into the ice cold water confirming his intention to help those in need.
And then it was time to purge one’s demons of doubt and dive – well, walk quickly – into the sea.
That low cyclical tide made even getting wet difficult as the would-be swimmers slogged out into the harbor trying to find water deep enough to actually plunge into. Hooting and hollering from supporters on the shoreline mixed with ramped up music created a merry cacophony easily heard in Falmouth.
Most plungers scurried in and out as fast as possible. But others wanted to really prove they were made of stronger stuff, diving headfirst into deeper water, splashing one another and generally having a blast until they couldn’t take the pain any longer.
Poised on the beach were EMTs from Mattapoisett’s police and fire departments just in case anyone had a problem. They were unaware of the added challenge – a $100 gift certificate would be awarded to the person who could stay in the water the longest.
As just about everyone headed back to shore and into the waiting warmth of dry towels and that heated tent, two swimmers remained in thigh-high water.
It was a standoff. Who could manage to stay in the longest? One female and one male stood several yards apart, arms folded, staring at the shoreline as the moments went by. Who would be the first to give in? It seemed an eternity but was more like five minutes as the DJ announced that those brave souls would both receive the prize calling the standoff a tie. But the swimmers couldn’t hear the DJ as he called for them to “come in,” the test was over.
The female eventually started for the shore – it was first-time participant Jasmine Burns. The male who also won was nowhere to be found for a comment afterwards.
Burns hustled into the tent where she attempted to warm up, saying that really the only part of her body that hurt was her toes.
McIntyre had said the same thing as he recovered. “It feels like my toes have been smashed with cinder blocks!”
But everyone said they would do it again next year and everyone was still smiling.
Michelle Huggins said that clearly the extreme cold temperatures had kept some people away, but overall the event was a success and the monies raised will go directly to families whose reality is now one of trying to survive something much more difficult then freezing ocean waters in January.
By Marilou Newell
