BY MICHELLE MILLER
STAFF WRITER
Some jump for the adrenalin rush,
but most do it because it is for a
good cause.
Each year, more and more participants
take part in the annual
Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump, a
fundraising event that helps children,
individuals and organizations
in need. This marked the 15th year
of the event with more than 340
people taking the ultimate plunge
into icy-cold water on Saturday.
More than $80,000 was raised this
year, according to organizers.
``We had a really nice turnout,’’ said
Brenda Waters.
Brenda and her husband Jamie
organize the jump that began with
11 participants and has grown in
popularity ever since.
The fundraiser steadily grew in
the 1990s, and by 2002 it had 112
participants who raised $15,000.
Last year, there were more than 285
people who dared to take the big
splash into the freezing-cold water
of the lake and according to organizers,
more than $60 thousand was
raised thanks to the many businesses,
organizations and people who
donated their time and money.
Brenda said she and her husband
came up with the idea to host a
jump on Goodyear Lake while thinking
about taking a second trip to the
St. Lawrence Polar Bear Plunge. We
asked ourselves why we needed to
travel so far and decided it would be
a good idea to have our own event,
said Brenda.
According to Brenda, the first
was a ``flop.’’ However, once word
out about what it was all about a
lot more people got involved, said
Brenda.
The annual Goodyear Lake Polar
Bear Jump keeps evolving because
recipients of money raised from the
event and their families typically
come back to help raise money
for others in need to show their
gratitude, said Brenda. Brenda said
she also believes businesses and
individuals like to contribute to the
benefit because the money is distributed
locally.
According to Brenda, the event
does not just include local
community members anymore.
She says participants
come from near and afar.
Jamie Dennis came from
Kentucky to participate in
this year’s festivities. She said
she was just going to donate
money but her husband said
she was too chicken to jump
so she had to prove him
wrong. The first-time jumper
jumped with friend Sally
Papcik, who is originally from
Milford and had jumped a
couple of times before.
``When you hit the water
it just takes your breath
away,’’ said Dennis. ``It was
fun though and I would do it
again.’’
Friends Morgan Dutcher
and Natasha Roseboom, both
of Milford, said they have
been jumping together for
seven years. They said their
dads got them involved.
The 19-year-olds said they
jump because of the rush.
They said it is like getting a
tattoo. It kind of sucks at the
time, but you get addicted to
it, they said.
Oneonta residence Calla
Losie, 16, and Melissa Hendrickson,
17, said this was
their first time taking the
ultimate plunge. They said
they decided to participate
because one of their best
friends, Jessica Dresser of
Oneonta, was one of the
recipients.
Hendrickson said when she
got on top of the block of ice
to jump into the freezing-cold
water she blinked, jumped
and then swam for her life.
``It was like hundreds of
knives going into my body,’’
she said.
Losie said the jump was not
as bad as she had anticipated.
``I thought it would be a lot
worse,’’ she said. ``I am defiantly
planning to do it again.’’
Amber Knos, 25 of Franklin,
and Ondrea Mott, 22 of Masonville,
were also first-time
jumpers. They said the water
itself was not so bad, but it
was getting out that really hit
them.
Knos said she did not know
a recipient but decided to
jump to support those in
need.
``I can only hope someone
would do the same for me,’’
she said.
The girls said the five
minutes of suffering through
being cold is better than a
lifetime of suffering.
First-time jumpers Jessica
Fusco and Justine Dueall, both
17 and from Sidney, said they
were encouraged to participate
in this year’s jump when
they saw a flyer in a Sidney
restaurant called Treats and
Eats. They also described the
experience to being stabbed
with knives. The girls said
once they reached the ladder
they were in shock.
``It was cool though,’’ said
Duaell. ``I would do it again.’’
Hannah Burchill, 18, of
Edmeston said last year was
her first time participating in
the frigid dip into the lake.
Burchill said she decided to
do it because a friend asked
her to and because she has a
big heart. It’s for a good cause,
she said.
Last year a grandmother
of one of the recipients approached
a man and began to
cry and that is when my eyes
were really opened to why
the jump is so important, said
Burchill.
Burchill said the water does
not feel that cold at first. It is
when you come up out of the
water and the air hits your
head that you really feel the
effects, she said.
According to Burchill, the
hot tubs are not set at really
hot temperatures, but it feels
like there are thousands of
needles stabbing you when
one first gets in.
This year’s recipients
included Aiden Kuehn, 5,
with neurofibromatosis;
Connor Watson, 5, who suffered
traumatic brain injury;
Cody VanBuren, 10, who has
Hirschsprug’s Disease; Morgan
McCall, 9, who has Cystic Fibrosis;
Jessica Dresser, 16, who
has Olfactory Neuroblastomo,
the Catskill Area Hospice,
the Portlandville Methodist
Church, United Way and
$1,000 will be donated to the
Milford Fire Department for
their continued support year
after year.
Brenda said she and her
husband would like to thank
everyone who participated
on all levels and especially
those who dared to take the
dip. This was all for a great
cause and the effort put in by
all those involved was greatly
appreciated, said Brenda.
Brenda said she would
also like to thank the many
businesses who sponsored
the event as well as those at
the Moose Lodge in Oneonta
for allowing the banquet ceremony
to be held there.
According to Brenda, Ed
Gwilt raised the most money
for the event with $3,280.
Jamie was able to raise $2,350
and David Hotaling collected
$2,307, said Brenda. Mataiah
Waters raised $868, which was
the most for participants 18
and younger, and Jonathan
Hoffman was able to raise
$570, according to Brenda.
Information, including
photos and videos, will be
added to pbjump.com on a
daily basis.
