By Georgia Sparling | Sippican Week See Video of Plunge!
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.MATTAPOISETT — With the temperature approaching 60, this year’s Helping Hands and Hooves Christmas Swim saw swimmers showing up in shorts.
The unusually balmy day brought out 85 swimmers, the biggest group ever to support Helping Hands, a Mattapoisett-based nonprofit that provides therapeutic horseback riding for disabled adults.
Approximately 160 supporters arrived to cheer and hand out towels for the swimmers as they exited the 50-degree water.
Funds from the 14th annual swim will pay for the organization’s riding lessons through the spring.
No matter how cold the weather or the water, Helping Hands co-founder Debbi Dyson said she can always force herself to take the icy dip.
“I can go through it to help them ride,” she said of the students who come to Helping Hands week after week.
But all were thankful for the warmer weather.
“One year I had to shovel a path through the snow,” said Dyson, who organizes the event with co-founder Julie Craig.
The crowd included new and returning swimmers.
Jean Schneider recently moved back to town with her kids, Nicole and Taylor Londergan. All three participated in the swim.
“This is our first year,” said Schneider. “It thought it would be a fun new tradition. It’s just a great thing to raise money for.”
Schneider had never done a polar plunge before.
“The closest I came to it was when my friends would open their pool in May,” she joked.
Participants rush into the chilly water at Mattapoisett Town Beach.
Bill and Janice Foley are a festive pair.- Jean Schneider completes her first polar plunge.
- One man gets out of the water fast.
- The water was warmer than usual, but it still wasn't warm.
- Caleb Martin comes out of the water unfazed.
- The Adams family takes a group photo after their swim
- Bill Foley emerges from the swim victorious.
All photos by Georgia Sparling, Sippican Week
Bill and Janice Foley jumped into the chilly water for the fifth year in a row.
“It’s like summer time,” said Bill, who dressed as Santa. “I’m going for a swim before I go back to the North Pole.”
Janice was also attired in holiday finery and said even though the morning was warm, it was still going to be a cold swim.
“We have a hot tub at home, so we jump in and get warm.”
Dyson said she was thankful for how many people support their small nonprofit.
“People have been so generous,” she said. “Some make donations for family members and put those checks in Christmas stalkings. It’s turned into a nice family tradition.”
And she said the turnout on Friday morning showed a lot of Christmas spirit. Donations exceeded $3,000, said Dyson.
“We’ve got the love of the community. It’s truly Christmas.”
