9th annual polar plunge raises money for Special Olympics

REVERE – Sometimes anticipation of a painful physical challenge can be worse than the physical act itself. Sometimes, as was the case in Saturday’s polar plunge at Revere Beach to benefit the Massachusetts Special Olympics, the pain is every bit as bad as anticipated.”I’m thinking I’m already freezing and it’s only going to get worse,” said Janice Hart, a softball coach for a Malden-based Special Olympics team, as she peeled off her sweater and hat preparing to jump in.Hart was one of about 700 people who participated in the 9th annual polar plunge on Revere Beach; the 15th overall in the state, benefitting Massachusetts Special Olympics.View photosParticipants raised hundreds of dollars each to earn the right to freeze their bottoms off Saturday, many of them donning costumes they ripped off right before they dove in.Patty Ross and Emily Maynard, both representing Special Olympics teams from Oxford High School, could barely speak as they ran up the beach after diving in and straight into the arms of warm towels supporters held.”It’s really cold,” Ross finally sputtered out, her eyes wide and face covered in goosebumps.”My feet are numb,” Maynard said.But both said the hours of fundraising and one minute of sheer shock was worth it.”We really love Special Olympics,” she said.The event, and a similar one held in Nantasket Beach in Hull the same day, raised a total of $305,000 to put on the games, which are free to the almost 13,000 athletes who participate every year, said Mary Beth McMahon, the president and CEO of Massachusetts Special Olympics.Veteran polar plunger Billy Allen passed on a towel or warmth of nearby heated tents as he stood, dripping on the sand, wearing only a red Speedo. This is his 13th year doing the polar plunge.”It’s very invigorating,” he said calmly, as other plungers ran by him up the beach, screaming.But Allen said no amount of practice can prepare you for what it feels like to dive into cold Atlantic Ocean water in the dead of winter.”You never get used to the initial shock,” he said. “It takes your breath away. As you’re walking in, you feel your body just going numb, all your nerve endings go numb.”The shock factor of the polar plunge is exactly what makes it such a great fundraiser, said Donald Croce, dressed in a Wonder Woman costume before he dove in.”It’s amazing to see everyone so happy to do this and support the Special Olympics,” he said, then let out a yell and ran into the ocean.Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].