A total of 60 hearty souls braved 27-degree temperatures, minus the wind chill, to take an aptly-named Polar Plunge on Feb. 1 at NARA Park, and raised $10,483.00 for the Massachusetts Special Olympics.
Safety was paramount for the people climbing up to the dunk tank, with guides at the entrance and exit, and even a safety diver and the Acton EMS standing by (not needed, fortunately). But no one could protect them from the shock of freezing water, as this writer can attest.
According to the Special Olympics’ website, contributors to the event were: Acton Lions, Acton Police, Ayer-Shirley Regional High School, Concord Police, Jaclyn Couture, Barbara DeFlorio, Dumpster Fire, Erin Dyson-Enamorado, Lindsay Entwhistle, Taylor Grace, Mike Guerriero, Hard Chargers MC Mass., Steve Kendall, Douglas Mahoney, Jacob Marshall, and Middlesex. There are Plunges scheduled in other Massachusetts locations before winter ends.
James Conboy played in the Acton Adult Softball League for seventeen years, and now plays in the EMASS Senior Softball League. He covers many sports games for the Acton Exchange.