ATLANTIC CITY — The annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge to raise money for a nonprofit cancer support organization was just another day for Anthony Weido, a 53-year-old construction worker from Atco, Camden County.
“I do this every week for 15 minutes,” Weido said as he stood bare-chested and barefoot on the beach in front of Resorts Casino Hotel on Wednesday. “It’s therapy — good for the core — takes away aches and pains.”
The temperature was high for the day at about 50 degrees, but there was a gale warning with westerly winds at 20 to 30 knots and gusts up to 40 knots, and seas were 4 to 7 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
Weido, who was there with his son Cody Weido, 29, for his first plunge, didn’t feel a chill.
“It’s not cold today. This is pretty warm,” Weido said. “I’ve done it when it was snowing.”
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Newbies to the event Derek Hargrove, 36, of Newark, and Heather Parks, 43, of New York City, waited to take off their shirts and hats on the beach and said they were ready to go all in.
“We signed up yesterday when it was a little warmer,” Parks said. “You only live once.”
Weido and Madison Hardiman, 22, of Galloway Township, won the contest for who could stay in longest. Both swam, regularly dipping their heads under water along with one or two others, while about six people stood knee or hip deep in the water, until the Atlantic City Fire Department ended the event for safety.
The event attracted more than 250 participants, said Cancer Support Community New Jersey CEO Eileen Dillon. The organization, located in Linwood and formerly called Gilda’s Club, provides support and education for cancer patients, survivors and their families.
Most polar plunge participants ran in and dipped, then ran back to towels and warm clothes. But a fair number stayed in for 10 minutes, then people slowly started coming out in pairs and small groups.
“I’m a beach babe in summer,” said Marcy Palmer, of Atlantic City, wearing a T-shirt that said, “I need Vitamin Sea.”
Palmer got wet up to her hips.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” she said.
After 15 minutes, only the hardcore folks were left in the water.
“I’ve been doing this for years on my own,” said Hardiman, who also won last year by staying in for a similar length of time.
She does it to support Cancer Support Community New Jersey in honor of family members who are fighting the disease, she said.
After 25 minutes, firefighters cleared the water.
Weido said he discovered the healing power of cold water when he participated in a winter plunge in Wildwood two years ago on a whim.
His wife, Kim, said he uses his ice tub in the backyard at home almost daily.
“When ice forms on top, he just breaks it up and goes in,” she said.
The Atlantic City Polar Bear Club started 33 years ago and for years ran the New Year’s Day plunge, Dillon said. A few years ago, the club asked the Cancer Support Community to take over the event.
“It’s very family friendly,” Dillon said. And it introduces the city to new visitors from all over.
“We have two people from the U.K. registered,” Dillon said. “Typically we get people from everywhere.”
