On a clear Saturday, a motley group of approximately 75 students and community members took turns leaping into Lake Raleigh’s 41-degree water as participants in the Polar Plunge.
The swimmers came in varying attire, some in elaborate costumes, some wearing nearly nothing at all. What they shared was a common purpose — to raise funds for Special Olympic athletes.
As a crowd of 300 onlookers and participants waited for the plunge to begin, some seemed fearless while others harbored inhibitions.
“I don’t mind the jump; it’s just after when it’s freezing,” Emma Howe, a sophomore in First Year College, said.
Howe, a first-time plunger, jumped with her Pi Beta Phi sorority sister Nicole Franklin.
“I’m ready to jump,” Franklin, a sophomore in biological sciences, said. “I’m taking Emma with me.”
Will Peete, a senior in national resources, said he is familiar with the feeling of jumping into icy waters. Peete participated in a similar event at Montana State University.
“They had to cut the ice to let us jump in,” he said.
Peete, who took the plunge with 12 others from his fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, opted to wear a bathing suit.
“I tried wearing thermal layers last time, but it didn’t make a difference,” he said.
Joseph Miller, a sophomore in mathematics, and David Hetrick, an freshman in First Year College, also went into the water wearing bathing suits.
However, their bathing suits, which they described as “Euro trunks,” didn’t cover much skin.
Despite his exposed skin, Hetrick said the water temperature did not bother him.
“That water was lukewarm,” he said.
Miller said he has jumped into similarly cold water in Chatham and Surry counties.
“This is the first time I’ve done the Polar Plunge, but not the first time I’ve jumped into horrendously cold water,” he said.
Miller claimed “experience is everything” when preparing for this type of event.
Unlike some of the eager plungers, Marian Goodrich, a senior in zoology, said she was “forced” to participate. She jumped with two fellow Alpha Zeta members.
Despite her initial reluctance, she said she would take the plunge again in the future.
“Getting out [of the water] wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” she said.
Goodrich noted the air felt warmer than the water.
The event, hosted by Campus Police, required each participant to contribute at least $50 for Special Olympics.
Carly Brown, a freshman in history education, said she raised money with members of the Teaching Fellows.
“I’m glad it’s going to a charity that really needs help,” she said.
According to Sgt. Jon Barnwell of Campus Police, the plunge generated more than $14,000 for Special Olympics as part of a fundraiser that will continue into May.
“We built on the success of last year,” Barnwell said. “We want to continue to double it next year.”
Tents with warm food and changing areas were available for participants after they exited the lake.
After all participants had the chance to experience the lake’s water, organizers presented jumpers with awards in categories such as best costume and oldest and youngest jumpers.
