Polar Bear Jump leaps to record donations this year

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DANIELLE CRUZ, LEFT, and Jennifer Insigna take the plunge. MICHELLE MILLER | THE DAILY STAR

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February 20, 2012

By Michelle Miller Staff Writer The Daily Star Mon Feb 20, 2012, 09:01 AM EST

There may have been fewer people than in the past few years taking the ultimate plunge into icy-cold water Saturday during the Goodyear Polar Bear Jump, but more money was raised than ever.

Organizer Jamie Waters said a total of $100,625 was raised as part of the fundraiser, which helps children, individuals and organizations. Waters said there was a big celebration when the $100,000 mark was hit.

"We have been averaging in the $80,000s the past few years," he said. "It is not the quantity of people that matters but the quality. Those who showed to jump all have such big hearts."

Money raised was presented during a banquet reception at the Elks Lodge in Oneonta after the jump. Funds were raised for seven children, Catskill Area Hospice, the Milford Fire Department and the Portlandville Methodist Church. The church will be sharing its award with two adults.

On Saturday, there were 275 jumpers and seven or eight teams participating in this year's event, which marked 17 years, according to Waters.

Although it has been a warm winter, there was a 7-inch layer of ice on the lake.

Spectators were asked to stay off the ice and watch from atop an overlooking hill. Jumpers were allowed on the ice in small groups.

There were a lot of first-time jumpers participating. Danielle Cruz and all but one member of her team Fastenal were all first-timers and included 10 members who play basketball in Sidney.

"I decided to do this for the charity part, to raise money," Cruz said. "Freezing was not part of the plan of making me want to do it."

Cruz said she did not know any of the beneficiaries of this year's jump, but felt good about doing something good for others.

"I don't know what to expect," Cruz said before heading to the ice.

Her teammate Jennifer Insinga of Unadilla jumped in 2009 and told the other girls it goes fast and not to worry too much.

"It's exhilarating," she said.

Insinga said she got involved in 2009 because a friend's daughter was a beneficiary. She said it was warm out in 2009 so the water seemed cold, so she was expecting the same for this year's jump.

Megan Wieland, 20, of Hobart was also a first-time jumper this year. She said she works at a lot of different places and at all of them she was encouraged to take the plunge.

"I have a niece who is disabled, so that pushed me a little more," she said. Shivering after her swim, Wieland said she thinks she will be back to jump again.

"It was not as bad as I thought it might be," she said. "Everyone made it seem really bad. I'm helping people out and I will do anything I can to help anybody out."

Team Camo 4 Hope members said they came from various areas in Chenango County to jump for the first time as a group in honor of Amanda Decker. Decker, 14, was one of this year's beneficiaries. The eighth-grader was diagnosed with a heart disease called restricted cardiomyopathy and had a heart transplant in 1998.

It was also the first time the Holiday Inn in Oneonta had a team. Jolene Swift, banquet captain, said she suggested doing it and everyone thought it would be a good idea. The eight members called themselves the Holiday Inn Hotties. Team member Sarah Baden said she is one who typically puts her toes in first before getting into a pool.

"It is for a good cause," she said before getting in line to jump. "We are all nervous and excited."

Amanda Augur and her father, Ray, of Cherry Valley, showed up in matching patriotic suites. Amanda Augur said they decided to do this because she was going into the Navy in August. It marked the third year the two of them have participated in the jump, they said, and they got involved because a friend was a beneficiary.

"We had fun doing it, so we continued to make it a yearly thing." Ray said. "It is all for a good cause."

Last year, Waters' daughter Mataiah raised the most money _$1,325 _ among children who participated and made it into the Polar Bear Hall of Fame Club. The 13-year-old said she raised even more money this year with $4,444.

"I have been doing this since I was 3," she said. "Even if my family were not the organizers, I think I would still do it."

When describing what it is like when one's body hits the icy-water, Mataiah said the only thing that comes to her mind is remembering to swim and getting to the other side to the ladder. "You don't really think about how cold it is at first," she said.

Mataiah jumped with her friend Maddy Zenir, 13, of Cherry Valley. Maddy said Mataiah dragged her into it last year, but she ended up having a lot of fun.

"It felt really good to help the kids who are sick," Maddy said.

Both girls said they plan to continue to jump each year.