Grant County Animal Outreach holds Polar Bear Plunge
Some Polar Bear Plunge participants seemed unsure they were going to get in, right up to the moment they jumped into Moses Lake.
MOSES LAKE - Dozens of brave men, women and children took a leap into the freezing waters of Moses Lake on New Year's Day Wednesday.
One participant wore a superwoman costume, another neon socks. One member of the military wore his uniform, boots and all. Some people dove, some slipped, one did a cannon ball. A couple of kids got dragged in by their dads. A few people yelled, some yelled things not fit to print, a few were silently brave, and one woman kept saying, "Oh no! Oh no!"
Firefighter Sean Hoxie said there were more people this year than in the last three years. He said the firefighters are there for medical support, and as was the case this year, to cut a hole through the ice on the lake.
The Grant County Animal Outreach program has hosted a Polar Bear Plunge for several years now on New Year's Day. It lasts from 12:00 p.m. to 12:01 p.m.
The large crowd prompted a move for next year to Blue Heron Park where there is more room and easier access to the water, Patty Gardine, Grant County Animal Outreach public relations and fundraising coordinator, said.
Several biker clubs, including the American Legion Riders of post #209 in Moses Lake, Bikers for Christ, the Unchained Brotherhood and the Marines Riders attended. Gardine said the bikers are a staple of the event.
Tammy Tincani, of Moses Lake, jumped for her eighth time. When she heard some women talking strategy of how to get into the water she told them, "There's no wading! You run! And the first time you do it, you think you're gonna die!"
Savannah Weston, 11, plunged for the first time this year. "It felt cold when I went in," she said, "I kind of liked it." She said she found out about the event the day before, and decided she was going to go. Her father and brother jumped with her. She's going to try to do it again next year but, she said, you never know where you'll be next year.
The event is held to raise awareness and funds, and to collect supplies for the Grant County Animal Outreach shelter. According to their website, the shelter has been in operation since 2007, and is located at 6725 Randolph Road in Moses Lake. They are open noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information about adopting an animal, call 509-762-9616.
Be sure to visit www.Facebook.com/CBHerald for Polar Bear Plunge photos and video.