By Mary Ellen Day, Special to the Beacon
It wasn’t exactly beach weather, but to three Manville-Hillsborough Elk members it didn’t really matter. The trio put on swim suits and joined more than 100 others on March 16 to rush into the wintry Atlantic Ocean for a good cause.
Manville residents Mike Knitowski and Mark Nipps, along with Hillsborough resident Gary Abramson, braved the frigid waters to participate at high noon in Asbury Park in the 6th annual Elks Miracle Plunge fundraiser.
”For years I attended the polar plunge that used to be held in Point Pleasant and it always looked like a fun event to take part in,” said Mr. Nipps, who took the dive for the fifth year.
It was the third year for Mr. Knitowski, and fourth year as a plunger and fifth as a contributor for Mr. Abramson.
”It is all about the kids — and being fortunate enough to be able to give back and share with those less fortunate,” Mr. Abramson said.
”There is a lot of camaraderie among those who take the plunge, and that is a draw — to see people whom you might not have seen in a year, as well as those you run into on a regular basis. But it is caring about, and sharing with the kids,” Mr. Abramson said.
Donations are shared amongst our major benefactors (Special Needs Children) and the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation as well as the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation.
The three solicited pledges for the cause. Mr. Nipps raised $1,000; in his five years of participating he has garnered about $6,000.
”I do a lot of begging through email and also Facebook to get my pledges,” he said.
Mr. Knitowski raised $1,320, with a little help.
”My wife, Deb, puts the event on Facebook and sends out emails to friends and family for donations,” he said. “I also solicited some businesses.” Mr. Knitowski thanked all who sponsored him with donations.
Mr. Abramson has also done well in the pledges. “Over the four years, I have raised, as well as donated to other plungers, just over $3,000,” he said. “About a month before I take the plunge, I send out an email request to my friends and family. You’d be amazed at how people respond to the solicitation once they fully understand who benefits from the event.”
The ’plunge “is a total adrenaline rush,” the men said.
“’’”Unlike the last two years, which were sunny and in the mid to upper 50’s, this year’s weather was daunting. Minutes before the swimmers left the indoor comfort of the Asbury Park Convention Center, it started to snow. The air temperature was 39 degrees, and the water was at 38, and a bit choppy.
’Mr. Abramson did have a new teammate — his pastor, the Reverend Dave Hill of the Neshanic Reformed Church.
”He caught wind of what I had done over the past couple of years and admitted to me that a polar bear plunge was one of a few items that he really wanted to try,” said Mr. Abramson. “We set it up this year and he had blast. He wants to come back again next year.”
”I love participating and raising money for the three worthwhile causes that it benefits. I look forward to doing this every year,” said Mr. Nipps.
”Love it! It’s fun and for a great cause,” Mr. Knitowski said.
Mr. Abramson said he felt “trepidation, then cold, really cold.”
Mr. Knitowski dressed for St. Patrick’s Day, adding a big green bow to his swimsuit attire. Some plungers come in costumes but Mr. Nipps said you don’t want to wear a lot of clothes because you cannot rip them off fast enough when they are wet.
Mr. Abramson just took his Elks clambake T-shirt off, kicked off his Pradas and dove in with a basic Jersey shore swimsuit.
Going into the water is the whole point of taking the plunge. “I always make it a point to go all the way under the water,” said Mr. Nipps, but Mr. Knitowski said he just dives in and gets back out. For Mr. Abramson it was a short time, too. He stayed in 60 seconds or less just “long enough to wade into about 4 feet of water, turn and dive with the next wave, and then get the heck out of the water as soon as possible,” he said.
Mr. Abramson said this year’s event was bittersweet because Past Elks State President John Sentner — “the main force behind the start-up and success of this event” — had passed away in November.
”John was a good friend of mine and a mentor to me as I worked alongside him on NJSEA state committees,” said Mr. Abramson.
Mr. Sentner’s wife, Judy, attended with John Jr., both of them there to reminisce as well as to watch daughter (and sister) Amy Sentner take her sixth plunge.”
The men invited others to join them next year.
Contact the Elks lodge (908-725-1717) and we will give you the information for you to register for the event, raise some funds and then put on your bathing suit and join us for a nice refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean,” said Mr. Nipps.
