State Sen. Donald Humason Jr. waves to the crowd during one of his 14 Penguin Plunges’. He is the only person who has participated every year.
WESTFIELD- The 15th annual Penguin Plunge will take place Saturday, January 26th at Hampton Ponds in Westfield.
The plunge, which takes place on the last Saturday in January of each year, is a fundraiser done to benefit the Amelia Park Children’s Museum. Each year, the event is done in dedication to a certain cause or event.
“Every year the plunge has a dedication,” said Chuck Kelly, Past President of the Amelia Park Children’s Museum board, “this year it’s dedicated to the Westfield 350th anniversary.”
Participants will jump into the frigid waters of Hampton Ponds around noon on January 26th. Current weather projections for that week show rain, snow, and highs of 38 degrees. There will be medical staff on hand, but Kelly said that in the 15 years of the plunge, nobody has ever had to be treated for hypothermia.
The Westfield Fire Department is involved in much of the preparations for the plunge. Before it begins, they will enter the water in drysuits and break up the ice, if there is any. Then they will rope off an area of the water in a ‘U’ shape for participants to swim through. At the end of the roped off area is a bell that plungers can ring to indicate that they have gone through with it.
If one wants to be a plunger, or would like to sponsor somebody who participates, they may go to Ameliaparkmuseum.org. Kelly, who has taken the plunge five times, said that each year he typically raises $2,000 to benefit the museum. He also gave advice for those who are contemplating taking the plunge for the first time.
Emperor Award winner, Chuck Kelly carries his granddaughter Amelia into the frigid water during the 2018 plunge. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
“Generally speaking, the water will be warmer than the air,” said Kelly, “the worst part is actually getting out of the water.”
There will be heated men’s and women’s changing tents available for plungers to dry off and change following their icy endeavor, according to the museum’s Executive Director, Kate Daly.
Chuck Kelly advises that those who take part dry their feet off first before anything else. He also recommends that people wear sneakers and socks as they go into the water.
Participants are also encouraged to wear costumes for their plunge as many often participate in teams and wear matching costumes. Awards will be given out for the best individual costume and best team costumes. Those who raise the most money will also be awarded a $500 prize.
There are many regular participants who take part in the plunge. The only person who has done it every year since its inception is State Senator Don Humason. The all-time fundraising leader for the plunge is Rick Barry, who sits just behind Humason in attendance, missing just one year. Those taking part in the plunge can sign up for an online platform that allows them to raise funds.
Participants and spectators may arrive at the site of the plunge at noon and the plunge itself will begin at 1 p.m. Daly said that the goal is to have 100 people participate.
