Our hats go off to all jumpers who took the plunge into
freezing-cold water during the 15th annual Goodyear Lake
Polar Bear Jump held on Saturday.
Sometimes people tend to forget what the event is all
about and get all wrapped up in the excitement that comes
along with the rush of doing something so gutsy. This is why
we would like to recognize the courageous jumpers, but
more importantly would like to say kudos to those individuals
and businesses that provide sponsorship and assisted in
making the event a success. Times are hard economically,
yet the participants were able to raise more than $80,000.
Organizers said they were in shock because they had only
hoped to be able to match last year’s earnings, which was
more than $60,000.
Brenda Waters, who has been organizing the event with
her husband, Jamie, since its inception, said the turnout was
just great with more than 340 jumpers this year. Each year
the event becomes more and more popular and Brenda said
she doesn’t think she and her husband could stop the event
even if they wanted to.
Brenda said she knows many people like to watch the
actual jump but encourages everyone to go to the afterjump
ceremony because that is where people will really get
hooked. The ceremony provides an opportunity for sponsors
and participants to meet the children in need and see
that their money is going for a good cause, she said.
There were many tears of emotion and we were able to
hand out more than $10,000 to our local recipients this year,
said Brenda.
We agree with Waters. Although the jump is something
entertaining and unique to see, people should not skip out
on the ceremony. It is not often people can actually watch
and observe where their donations are going _ to their local
community members in need. We would also like to tip out
hats to Jamie and Brenda Waters for doing such a good job
organizing the event each year. The jump keeps growing,
not only in the number of participants who take the dive,
but also in what the event has to offer. New to last year’s
event was professionally created ice sculptures by members
of Iceography. Although the sculptors could not be present
on the day of the event this year, they made sculptures the
day before so there would be something for visitors to look
at.
The event, which began as an 11-man jump, has become
a tradition that many people come from near and far to
enjoy and participate in.
