Howard County will be well represented this weekend when a mob of bathing-suit clad Marylanders descend into the frigid waters of the Chesapeake Bay for the Maryland State Police's Polar Bear Plunge.
The annual event, in its 19th year, is held at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis and is one of the largest fundraisers for Maryland Special Olympics, raising millions of dollars for the cause. This year, the organization has a goal of $2.5 million across two weekends of events.
Participating will be two of the county's most prominent government officials: County Executive Allan Kittleman and Police Chief Gary Gardner. Gardner is one of 24 members of the Howard County police department taking part in the Police Plunge, a special event for law enforcement agencies that kicks off the event on Jan. 23.
Kittleman is one of 29 participants so far signed up for the Super Plunge, a Jan. 24 event that requires a dip in the frigid water every hour for 24 hours.
Gardner, who has participated in the event almost every year since it began, said it is extremely important for Howard County to be an active partner in the event because of it's history.
"Our former Chief Jim Robey helped bring Special Olympics to Maryland, so we are rich in the tradition of Special Olympics, and it is important for us to maintain that as an agency," Gardner said. "It is very important to me."
Kittleman is new to the event, but he too was influenced by Robey, who also served as county cxecutive and a state senator before retiring from public service last year.
"He was an encouraging person for me," said Kittleman, who participated in the Super Plunge for the first time in 2014.
After years of taking the plunge, Gardner said there's one particular year that stood out for him – when it snowed in 2010.
"It was a neat effect, having it snow while you are running onto the beach," Gardner said.
He said he is hoping for a little snow this year as well, although not enough to make the conditions dangerous or for the event to be postponed, like it was last year.
"I like the effects of a little snow flurry; it adds to the atmosphere," he said.
Kittleman, on the other hand, is hoping for a bit warmer weather, especially as the Super Plunge event wears on.
"The first few were fairly easy," he said. "But once nightfall comes and you have been doing it for a couple hours, it's cold."
Kittleman said the hardest part isn't actually jumping in the water, it's getting out of the water and running on to the beach.
"The minute you get back in the tent is the most relieving time of the whole day," he said.
Kittleman said the atmosphere at the event created by the Special Olympics is an adrenaline boost for participants. He also said it helps that each hourly plunge is themed, which adds some variety and fun to the mix.
"What helps you is there are so many people who are cheering you on, and they always have something going to make it special for that hour," he said.
Last year, Kittleman wore a different T-shirt for each dunk. The T-shirt roster included every Howard County High School and some local nonprofits.
"All in all it's a whole lot of fun," he said.
Police Plunge
While the event has been a long-time tradition in the county, especially for police, 2015 marks the first year it is being coordinated by the department's Community Outreach Division, a newly established office.
Sgt. Jennifer Reidy-Hall, a first-time plunger and supervisor of the office, said it is a "feel-good" event that fits well with the office's mission.
"A lot of people know about the Special Olympics, but they may not know about all the little programs that this money goes it to," she said. "I've gone to events before where you are putting medals over kids heads, and it's one of those heartwarming things."
As of Jan. 20, the Howard County police team has raised $3,195, blowing their goal of $2,000 out of the water.
Reidy-Hall said she's been selling participants on the payoff: "What I keep telling everybody is that it is going to be 30 seconds of cold, but so very worth it when it comes to the money we have raised."