The second annual New Year's Day Polar Plunge in Peekskill raised $6,015—more than double what the inaugural event saw—for a local organization that gives scholarships to students facing adversity.
The event took place at Peekskill’s Riverfront Green Park Wednesday. The weather was frigid.
"We actually couldn’t plunge!" organizer Lauren Brady told Patch via email. "The river froze and though the (AMAZING) Peekskill EMS, firefighters and police did literally EVERYTHING they could to help and break-up the ice, it just wasn’t safe enough in the end."
So instead of jumping in the Hudson River, the 34 participants stripped down to bathing suits and stood on the shore while firefighters doused them with the fire hose.
Lauren called the turn of events "amazing."
The Quiet Man Public House sponsored the plunge, which benefits the This Is Me Foundation. Lauren and her sister Caitlin Brady launched the foundation in 2012. It's aimed at raising awareness of alopecia, an autoimmune disease that results in hair loss, and spreading hope to individuals who are facing challenges.
The foundation gives college scholarships for students in the area who are facing adversity, or who have helped a friend through a difficult time. The scholarship program is inspired by Ryan Risco and Cait Chivonne Polhill, two local people who died young.
Check out more photos of the event here, on the This Is Me Foundation's Facebook page.
Editors' note: This story was originally posted at about 10:15 p.m. Jan. 3, 2014.
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