Bearing the MAC Angels Foundation logo and shouting “Freedom,” Phil Gormley, a Polar Plunge establisher, leads the crowd of participants into Long Island Sound during the 16th Annual Ray’s Polar Bear Plunge at Oakland Beach at Rye Town Park on Monday, Jan. 1.
Rye resident Daniel Rudolph-Math and his 18-year-old son Tim Rudolph-Math talk with Rye resident Susanna Cronin while bundling up with blankets in an attempt to keep warm before running into freezing water.
Everyone has different ways of preparing for the frigid water. Alison and Andres Oquendo of Rye wear T-shirts to adjust their bodies to the 16-degree Fahrenheit weather.
Phil Gormley, a Polar Bear Plunge originator, announces the plunge instructions and beneficiaries to participants. This year, along with MAC Angels Foundation and Challenged Athletes Foundation, event proceeds are going to two new charities: Soul Ryeders and the Outreach Resurrection Committee.
Superman, also known as Rye resident Jeremy Dorin, studies his next obstacle of jumping into Long Island Sound.
After a few seconds, most participants are ready to turn around and book it out of the water.
Linda Delgado of Riverside, Conn. gives her exhausted son Tomas a congratulatory high-five while they dry-off and warm -up in their towels and robe.
