Polar bathers pile into the river. (Photo by Bill Hand)
It was more of a splash than a plunge.
The area in the Neuse River where poles connected with lines had been set up for Polar Plunge participants had water that was only thigh deep, and fewer bathers showed up for the event because of the chilling wind and freezing temperatures on Feb. 7.
But the fundraiser, which included Pamlico County and the New Bern Police Department, still went off and more than $11,000 was raised to support Pamlico’s Special Olympics. Pamlico participants alone raised a record $9,430.
The bathers line up. (Photo by Bill Hand)
The water level had been waist deep when Lt. Derek Dubay, who organized the New Bern event, had first set up the poles before the tide began going out. Although some of the participants ducked into the water to get fully wet, the majority settled for freezing their legs and splashing as they ran.
Hotdogs were served afterward.
Pamlico was initially slated to hold its own event Jan. 31 at John Bond Town Beach in Oriental. But several inches of snow arriving that weekend caused organizers to postpone it, according to Pamlico’s Special Olympics Coordinator Jessica Aldridge.
EMT personnel stand by while families prepare to record the event. (Photo by Bill Hand)
She said about 20 residents had signed up and were notified that they could show up at the New Bern event sponsored by the North Carolina Law Enforcement Polar Plunge and the New Bern Police Department.
The Feb. 7 event, held at Jack’s Island at the city’s Lawson Creek Park, was sparsely attended.
Dubay said he expected 10 to 20 participants. In the end, exactly 10 people took the plunge, including no bathers from Pamlico, although Aldridge was there, landside, to offer support. Special Olympics participant Harrison Aldridge was also on hand to watch with supporters Ellie Aldridge and Angel Fite.
Jessica Aldridge said two Pamlico residents had taken it upon themselves to take a plunge in Oriental the previous week.
Apparently, distance, cold and whipping winds pushed everyone else to just turn in the funds they’d raised and hunker down at home.
This was the fifth year for Pamlico’s annual polar plunge. Aldridge said Pamlico County has 50 to 60 special needs athletes who participate in local and regional events.
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