About 200 hardy souls dashed into the water off Frank P. Petrone Crab Meadow Beach on Sunday morning to help raise money for Special Olympics.
This year’s Polar Plunge included teams from the Elwood, South Huntington, Harborfields and Northport school districts as well as town employees and other groups and individuals.
John Cronin, who, with his father, Mark, runs John’s Crazy Socks, also took the plunge, as he has in past years. Participants were given socks featurng polar bears, while Mac’s Snack Shack provided goodies.
Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo, who emceed the event and later did the plunge, said, “The coolest thing this year that’s different as that we have students from all our schools here.” “We”ve really got our town covered and that’s what this day is all about.”
He thanked Cronin, calling him an inspiration to others.
With water temperatures at abou 49 degrees and air temperatures in the 50s, the plunge wasn’t as cold as it has been in some years, several participants said.
Top fundraisers as of Sunday morning included Councilman Sal Ferro, John Cronin and Sharon Richmond.
“I saw my friend Nick (Aronov) was doing it and I thought it was a really good cause, We all should do our part so that other people can benefit,” Richmond said.
Participants were given socks from John’s Crazy Socks featurng polar bears, while Mac’s Snack Shack provided them with tasty goodies.