Saturday’s seventh annual Penguin Plunge raised money for Amelia Park Children’s Museum.
Kayla C.L. Artz, of Westfield, is the bride with cold feet as she wades in the icy waters of Hampton Pond during the Penguin Plunge held Saturday in Westfield to benefit the Amelia Park Children's Museum. Behind her is Lynne I. Clark, also of Westfield.
The outside temperature registered 33 degrees, just one degree above freezing, and with spectators bundled snugly in layers of warm clothing, winter swimmers of all shapes, sizes and ages took their turn jumping into the water, a square area cut out of the ice for the occasion.
After the initial immersion, they were required to wade out to where a volunteer in a protective suit held a bell that had to be rung.
“It was so cold,” said Stephanie A. Goonan, of Huntington. “But it was still fun.”
Saturday’s seventh annual Penguin Plunge, in this case for the Amelia Park Children’s Museum, was the first for Goonan and her friend, Katie V. Dononvan, of Huntington. Goonan and Donovan, along with second-time penguin plunger Ellen M. Couture, of Montgomery, comprised Team Froggy’s.
“It really wasn’t that bad,” said Donovan, who said she decided to participate in the event because “I thought it would be fun, and it’s for a good cause.”
Couture said the cold temperatures did not deter her last year or this, and it won’t keep her from returning next year for a repeat performance.
“I’m definitely going to do this again,” she said.
Among the penguin plungers was Kayla C.L. Artz, of Westfield, dressed in a wedding gown as a bride with cold feet, literally.
Artz took the plunge last year dressed as a nurse.
State Rep. Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield, made his traditional plunge, fully dressed in his signature dark suit and “I Love Westfield” pin affixed to his lapel.
Two heated changing tents, a fire pit, and hot drinks were on site to help the ice bathers thaw.
Children’s Museum Board of Directors member Diana L. McLean said the event traditionally draws the support of the community in a variety of different roles from the plungers who take leave of conventional wisdom to jump into the icy waters, to local high school and college students who help with registration.
“This is our biggest fund-raising event of the year,” she said. “It’s important that people get out there to support us.”
City Councilor Nicholas Morganelli served as the master of ceremonies, the 104th Air National Guard provided the generators that heated the tents, and the Fire Department sold chili. Steaming cups of hot chocolate and coffee were also available for sale.