Washington Township police Patrolman Bryan Boccanfuso raises money for Special Olympics.
By: Lauren Burgoon
WASHINGTON Bryan Boccanfuso knows what he does is not normal. It’s not normal to strip down to his bathing suit on a snowy winter day. It’s not normal to throw his body into the near freezing temperatures of the Atlantic Ocean. And it’s probably not normal to do that over and over again each year but it sure is fun, he said.
If all goes swimmingly, nothing will stop Mr. Boccanfuso, a Brick resident and 15-year veteran of Washington’s police force, from acting abnormally again next year by diving into the ocean in the dead of winter.
The patrolman recently took part in the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Point Pleasant Beach, sponsored by the New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run. The icy Feb. 27 swim marked the 11th time that Mr. Boccanfuso took the plunge. Although he had to sit out one year while recovering from surgery, not much else can keep the thick-skinned Mr. Boccanfuso from participating in the plunge that benefits the Special Olympics.
"It’s such a good feeling when you see the kids who participate in the Special Olympics and their parents along the beach. They are always cheering you on and smiling from knowing that the donations raised will help them," Mr. Boccanfuso said Monday.
So what does someone wear to dive into 38-degree ocean temperatures and emerge into 32-degree land temperatures? Surely a wet suit or pants at least. Not so, Mr. Boccanfuso, said a bathing suit was enough for him.
"It’s cold without a doubt. There was snow on the beach this year but your adrenaline gets going. The adrenaline pumps so hard when you’re running into the ocean with thousands of other people and you hear the kids cheering from the beach. It’s very encouraging," he said. "For me it’s harder to jump into my 70-degree pool on a 95-degree day than to get in the ocean in the winter."
The cheering might be enough to warm Mr. Boccanfuso but he hasn’t been able to convince fellow police officers or family to join the plunge.
"I try every year and people come out to watch but I’m sure a lot of them are thinking, ‘Are you crazy? I’m not diving in that freezing ocean!’" he chuckled.
Still, New Jersey’s Polar Plunge continues to grow every year. About 3,000 other people braved the conditions this year to take the plunge. Plungers ranged from 6 to 70 years old and all did their best to raise funds for the Special Olympics. The annual event brings in upwards of $500,000 every year, with the plunger raising the most this year contributing $17,000. Mr. Boccanfuso added $6,400 of contributions to the total.
"I really want to thank the local businesses around here. If it weren’t for them and the generous people around here I wouldn’t get close to that amount," he said.
The Special Olympics uses the funds to hold its annual weekend of games for disabled children and teens. The event kicks off each year with a Torch Run similar to the opening ceremony of the international Olympics, Mr. Boccanfuso said. He participates in the Special Olympics by handing out medals each year.