Frigid fundraisers a shore thing

The water was ice cold, and the screams were loud. But those who braved polar plunges in both Swampscott and Nahant believe in the causes they’re helping, so to them, it was worth it.Friends, family and members of the community gathered at both the Swampscott Yacht Club and Short Beach in Nahant for two causes near and dear to them. In Swampscott, it was to raise money for a local resident who has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, while in Nahant it was to help raise money for special golf carts so disabled people who love to play will be able to.It was the 10th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Swampscott, and participants began arriving around 9:30 a.m. for the 11 a.m. plunge.This year was Mary McCarriston’s first time making the plunge. Her reason was to support her friend Maureen Bolognese, who was diagnosed with ALS.”We are a group that loves Mrs. ?B’ and we are willing to freeze for her,” McCarriston said.Jill Hartmann, whose husband, Mike, started the event, assists with organizing the plunge.”Mike tried to get 10 of his friends to plunge in the water with him one year on Jan. 1,” she said, “so he, along with the others, decided to plunge for a cause and raise money for different charities.”Since the group had participated in the ice bucket challenge to raise money and awareness for ALS over the summer, they decided to stick with that and have the plunge to raise money for their friend.Mrs. “B,” as her friends call her, was a teacher in Nahant and “she is dearly loved in the community,” McCarriston said.The club asks members to submit recommendations for a charity, and 80 percent of year’s funds will go toward Bolognese’s medical bills. Twenty percent will go to research.”The event has become a fun community event and is a great way to bring in the new year,” Hartmann said.While the yacht club’s plunge was coming to a close, the Nahant plunge, which has recently been named “Freezing for a Reason,” was getting started.John Bozarjian lived in Nahant and he did the plunge one year with his friend George Sonia, owner of Lancelot Janitorial on the Lynnway. The group grew, so participants decided to make the plunge for a cause, and this year they chose to do it to raise money for golf carts for the disabled.The golf carts would allow individuals who were not able to play golf to participate in the game. Their goal is to raise $6,000 to get Nicholas Capano, son of Lynn School Committee member Patricia Capano, a golf cart. They have raised $3,000 so far. The extra $3,000 would pay for the maintenance of the cart.A $20 donation supports the cause, and the participant is given a free T-shirt that has the slogan along with how many years he or she has done the plunge.”All ages are welcome to join,” Sonia said, “Everyone comes down and has a good time.”