W.Va. residents take plunge to support child
SHANNONDALE, W.Va. (AP) – Jumping into a freezing lake may seem like a strange way to raise money, but the idea went over swimmingly with friends and family of Madeline Nagy.
The “Freezing for a Reason” polar plunge in the lake at Shannondale was held as a fundraiser for Madeline, 5, who was diagnosed with Turner’s Syndrome and Trisomy 7, said her mother, Colleen Nagy.
“She can’t walk and she’s in a wheelchair, so we’re trying to raise money to buy a wheelchair accessible van,” Nagy said.
Nagy said Madeline often experiences pain in her joints, and is uncomfortable when family members carry her to and from the car.
About 20 people showed up March 29 at the Shannondale Lake Clubhouse to plunge, most of them friends and family members. About $4,000 was raised by the event through the donations of sponsors, said Carolyn Schultz, one of the event’s organizers.
Natalie Steele was ready to plunge, dressed in Hawaiian-print shorts and a straw hat over her bathing suit. Steele is the veteran plunger who came up with the idea for a polar plunge fundraiser.
“I came up with the idea, and then it just blossomed from there,” Steele said. “Originally, I thought maybe people would pay me to jump in the freezing cold water, and the next thing I know, everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon and we’ve got maybe 20 plungers. Maybe this will become an annual event.”
Schulz said Steele is a sorority sister of hers.
“Natalie plunges every year for the Special Olympics in Annapolis, and this year it was canceled due to the ice,” said Schultz. “She wanted to do it if we could find her a spot, so the owners of the Shannondale Lake Clubhouse graciously opened early and sponsored us to do it here.”
Schultz explained how a “polar plunge,” as the events are called, works. Participants get friends, family or neighbors to sponsor their plunge by donating to the cause, in this case a van for Madeline.
“Some people are dared to go deeper into the lake for more money,” Schultz said.
Steele said she likes plunges because they are a fun personal challenge.
“You’ve got to be a little bit crazy to do that, so that’s fun,” she said. “It’s really just an oddball way to raise money.”
The coldest plunge Steele participated in was in 33 degree Fahrenheit water at Sandy Point State Park in Maryland. She said snow was falling during the plunge, which made it “like being in a snow globe.” Steele estimated that the water temperature in the Shannondale lake Saturday was about 35 degrees.
“I’m just glad to see the amazing support from friends and family. That’s a very special little girl and I hope what we have done is really going to help out. That’s what this is all about, helping someone out,” Steele said.
Nagy said she also felt touched by the turnout for the polar plunge.
“It’s amazing,” Nagy said. “I’m touched that so many people, and so many people we don’t know. It just means a lot. We live pretty far from family, so on a daily basis, we have no support. When people come together like this it’s very exciting. They all love Maddie so much, just as much as we (her parents) do.”
The fundraising effort for Madeline and her family has a page on GoFundMe, a fundraising website, where donations are accepted. The goal is to raise $40,000, and so far $6,888 has been raised. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/madelinesvan.