Alaskans take dip in freezing water for charitable cause

WASILLA — There was barely a breath of breeze on Finger Lake as residents and representatives of local businesses prepared to take Mat-Su Sertoma’s Polar Plunge on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

“Dude, it’s warm outside!” said one female jumper as she left the comfort of the Elks Lodge in preparation for the plunge.

About 100 people showed up to take on the icy challenge and support Mat-Su Sertoma in its 12^th annual fundraiser, which also benefitted the Wasilla Warrior Music Booster coffee cart project and the Food Pantry of Wasilla’s Food 4 Kids Program. The event was sponsored by more than 30 organizations.

Some jumpers did it for a lark, others as a continuation of tradition, and at least a few took the plunge quite reluctantly.

“I don’t want to do this!” said a female jumper as she approached the end of the dock.

Mat-Su Career and Technical High School student Maddie Reid claimed she was “forced” to jump with fellow Rotary Youth Exchange members Emma Haidacher, from Colony, and Dani Montiel, from Wasilla, but Haidacher said it was a “unique experience” that she would enjoy again.

“I think I would,” Haidacher said.

“Definitely,” Montiel agreed, toweling off.

The teenage girls were not the youngest jumpers present — that was 6-year-old Calvin Giles, the youngest to ever participate in the Mat-Su event, officials said.

When asked if he was excited before the plunge, he shrugged, then pointed to the Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services personnel sitting by the opening in the ice.

“I’m gonna jump over by those guys since I don’t know how to swim,” he said.

Calvin’s father, Justin Boots — who works for Country Legends — made the jump with him, just in case.

Afterward, Calvin wouldn’t say it was fun, but did have a smile on his shivering face.

That’s how many jumpers exited the water — after recovering from the shock of the cold — happy to have accomplished the feat, whether for the first or fifth time.

Mat-Su Sertoma Club President Sondra Kaplan said the event had raised $13,000 as of about 2 p.m., “and the money’s still coming in,” she said.

Mat-Su Sertoma (an abbreviation for “Service to Mankind”) is the local branch of a national organization committed to assisting with hearing health issues. To learn more, visit www.matsuhearing.org, or find Mat-Su Sertoma on Facebook.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.