THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9502050052
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 114 lines
Not even a wind chill factor of approximately 20 degrees Saturday afternoon could deter more than 150 hardy souls from running into the Atlantic Ocean for the third annual Polar Plunge.
The throng of goose-pimpled and wind-burned participants huddled together on the beach at 5th Street, jumping up and down to ward off the chill as they waited for the starter's gun. It was 39 degrees with winds gusting up to 24 mph, but the weather only seemed to fuel the plungers' desire to immerse themselves in the 43-degree water.
``It's for a good cause,'' said Heidi Greaves, a police officer from Prince William County who shivered in a pink and white bikini. ``The money raised goes to the Special Olympics. And it's a lot of fun.''
Mike Trest said that he swore last year he would never take the plunge again, and couldn't explain why he was back for this year's event.
``Last year it hurt - all my joints were stiff,'' he said. ``I don't know why I'm here - I'm just an idiot.''
At the sound of the gun, the plungers scrambled down the sand, hooting and hollering as parka-clad spectators cheered. Many of the males wore black bow ties, looking like Chippendale dancer wanna-bes.
Their bravado was short-lived, though, after the shock of entering the water hit them. Most ran in and promptly raced back out. A few remained, jumping the waves and flapping their arms in the air with gusto. One man stood knee-deep, holding a flag that read ``Adventure Club East'' and slowly treaded through the water.
``It gives you a slight voice change for awhile,'' said Jim McDevitt, founder of the Newport-News-based club. The Adventure
Club East, FM-99 WNOR and Clarion Resort sponsored the Polar Plunge. ``I'm trying to outgrow it, but it gets worse every year. I'm pretty numb right now.''
Club member Kim Eddy of Williamsburg exited the ocean behind McDevitt, but stopped suddenly and turned, a gleam in her eyes.
``I'm going back in,'' she declared. ``I didn't raise $600 for nothing!
``People think you're crazy to do this, so it gives you a lot of leeway for behavior,'' she added.
The last one out of the ocean - for the third year in a row - was Michael Thompson of Baltimore, who bobbed in neck-deep water for several minutes. The burly airport police officer even beat out the guys who cheated and wore wet suits. He stood on the beach for a few minutes and let the frigid air dry the drops of saltwater on his reddened skin.
``I AM warm!'' he said with a laugh, when asked if he felt the cold. ``I do this every year for the sense of community spirit, and for the kids.''
Last year, 157 plungers raised more than $22,000 for the Special Olympics. This year, 158 participants raised about the same amount of money, said Michael Baum, director of public relations for the Special Olympics.
VIRGINIA BEACH - Not even a wind chill factor of approximately 20 degrees Saturday afternoon could deter more than 150 hardy souls from running into the Atlantic Ocean for the third annual Polar Plunge.
The throng of goose-pimpled and wind-burned participants huddled together on the beach at 5th Street, jumping up and down to ward off the chill as they waited for the starter's gun. It was 39 degrees with winds gusting up to 24 mph, but the weather only seemed to fuel the plungers' desire to immerse themselves in the 43-degree water.
``It's for a good cause,'' said Heidi Greaves, a police officer from Prince William County who shivered in a pink and white bikini. ``The money raised goes to the Special Olympics. And it's a lot of fun.''
Mike Trest said that he swore last year he would never take the plunge again, and couldn't explain why he was back for this year's event.
``Last year it hurt - all my joints were stiff,'' he said. ``I don't know why I'm here - I'm just an idiot.''
At the sound of the gun, the plungers scrambled down the sand, hooting and hollering as parka-clad spectators cheered. Many of the males wore black bow ties, looking like Chippendale dancer wanna-bes.
Their bravado was short-lived, though, after the shock of entering the water hit them. Most ran in and promptly raced back out. A few remained, jumping the waves and flapping their arms in the air with gusto. One man stood knee-deep, holding a flag that read ``Adventure Club East'' and slowly treaded through the water.
``It gives you a slight voice change for awhile,'' said Jim McDevitt, founder of the Newport-News-based club. The Adventure
Club East, FM-99 WNOR and Clarion Resort sponsored the Polar Plunge. ``I'm trying to outgrow it, but it gets worse every year. I'm pretty numb right now.''
Club member Kim Eddy of Williamsburg exited the ocean behind McDevitt, but stopped suddenly and turned, a gleam in her eyes.
``I'm going back in,'' she declared. ``I didn't raise $600 for nothing!
``People think you're crazy to do this, so it gives you a lot of leeway for behavior,'' she added.
The last one out of the ocean - for the third year in a row - was Michael Thompson of Baltimore, who bobbed in neck-deep water for several minutes. The burly airport police officer even beat out the guys who cheated and wore wet suits. He stood on the beach for a few minutes and let the frigid air dry the drops of saltwater on his reddened skin.
``I AM warm!'' he said with a laugh, when asked if he felt the cold. ``I do this every year for the sense of community spirit, and for the kids.''
Last year, 157 plungers raised more than $22,000 for the Special Olympics. This year, 158 participants raised about the same amount of money, said Michael Baum, director of public relations for the Special Olympics.
``It gets better and better every year,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
L. TODD SPENCER
More than 150 people participated in the third annual Polar Plunge
Saturday at 5th Street and the Oceanfront.
Photo
L. TODD SPENCER
Jim McDevitt and Kim Eddy bring the Adventure Club East flag into
the cold water of the Atlantic Ocean Saturday afternoon. The club
sponsored the fund-raiser, which benefits Special Olympics.
by CNB