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LAWRENCE: Taking the ‘plunge’ to aid Special Olympics

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   It’s not exactly a day at the beach when the air temperature is hovering in the 40s and the water temperature is about the same — and it’s in the middle of February.
   But that did not stop six Lawrence Middle School students from jumping into the Atlantic Ocean, raising $1,200 to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey. The organization provides free sports activities and athletic training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
   The six girls — Dara Clarke, Shannon Cronce, Jasmine Mustra, Kinsey Ratzman, Rita Thompson and Olivia Waaben — took part in the 20th annual Special Olympics New Jersey Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser in Long Branch on Feb. 23.
   Special Olympics New Jersey’s Polar Bear Plunge traditionally has been held on the beach at Seaside Heights, but it was moved up the coast to Long Branch after the resort town was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
   ”It was my idea,” Rita admitted. “My uncle told me about the Polar Bear Plunge, and it sounded like fun. It’s a conversation starter — ‘What did you do over the winter?’ ‘I plunged into the ocean.’”
   While Rita participated in the Polar Bear Plunge last year, this was the first time that Jasmine took part. She said she decided to “take the plunge” after looking at videotapes and photographs of last year’s event. She agreed that it seemed like a fun thing to do.
   ”Not many kids at school get to say, ‘I raised money and jumped in the middle of the ocean in the middle of the winter,’” Jasmine said.
   Jasmine and Shannon credited Rita with getting everyone to participate, adding that Rita started the team. Shannon added that her father and her brother also took part in the Polar Bear Plunge, but not as members of this team.
   The girls named their team the Yellow Polka Dot Bikini Team, for obvious reasons — all six wore yellow polka dot bikinis or swimsuits. And shoes or boots, because sand in the middle of February is pretty cold. Many participants wore “crazy costumes,” Jasmine said. Some of the guys wore Speedo swimsuits.
   The team warmed up in the back of a minivan driven by a team member’s mother. Other “plungers” had set up tents with food and portable heaters while they were waiting for the event to begin, Shannon said.
   ”I was like, ‘I really don’t like the cold. I am in my bathrobe. I get cold very easily,” Jasmine said, as Shannon nodded her head in agreement. Shannon said that she, too, is “not a cold-weather person.”
   Then, it was time to line up on the beach and wait for the Polar Bear Plunge to begin. On the beach, “you couldn’t see the end of it. The beach was covered with people (waiting to go in the water),” Jasmine said. There were nearly as many people watching from the boardwalk, she said.
   ”It was very cold. It was windy and the wind made it feel colder. It was raining. You were partially wet before you even went into the water,” Shannon said.
   Rita admitted that she was a little nervous — “Why am I doing this?” — but it was for a good cause.
   Rita and Shannon agreed that it was better not to think about it, because they were already numb from the cold. Thinking about it would not make it any better, they said.
   When the signal was given to jump into the water, everyone on the beach raced to the ocean. They were only allowed to go knee-deep into the ocean, but then they could duck under the water’s surface. The girls agreed — it was cold.
   ”We came out and other people were going into the water. A few people went in after us and they swam around and then they came out of the ocean,” Rita said.
   Shannon said that “a lot of people gave us credit” for braving the frigid water and the only slightly warmer air. “You run in and see how much fun it is,” she said.
   ”You only live once. You have to do it. Everyone says that once you do it, you’ll do (the Polar Bear Plunge) for the rest of your life,” Rita said.