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<b>First Posted:</b> 3/16/2008<br><br>RALPH NARDONE Times Leader Correspondent
HARVEYS LAKE &amp;ndash; Would you like to go for a swim on a 40-degree day with lake water temperatures hovering around 35 degrees? Seventy-five participants did just that in the fourth annual  Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday afternoon at Garrity Realty. 

A fundraiser to collect money to fight cancer, the plunge attracted swimmers ages 9 to 71. They included teachers, dental professionals, students and polar aquatic enthusiasts dressed in an array of garb from official competitive swimsuits to bathtub-themed ensembles.
Some swam out to touch the lake ice, others ran in and out. Russ Keeler, carrying his back-cleaning brush and wearing a bathing cap, wanted to be the first in and the last out.
 &amp;ldquo;There&amp;rsquo;s an instant shock, but it&amp;rsquo;s not too bad,&amp;rdquo; he said.
&amp;ldquo;It&amp;rsquo;s like needles!!&amp;rdquo; shouted one other swimmer.
Susan Boris, whose daughters Caroline and Allison started the swim event in honor of her late husband Buddy, said she truly appreciates this &amp;ldquo;tribute of love.&amp;rdquo;
&amp;ldquo;Buddy loved a crowd, and he loved the lake,&amp;rdquo; she added.
Last year, the plunge raised about $6,500 for the Relay For Life at Misericordia University. This year&amp;rsquo;s fundraising is on pace to match last year&amp;rsquo;s event, organizers said.
Maureen Lewis, swim coach for Lake-Lehman High School, joked the weather and water temperature were an improvement from previous swims.
 &amp;ldquo;I hear this is great for arthritis,&amp;rdquo; Lewis added.
Lewis mentors the Lake-Lehman students who organize the entire event each year as part of their senior project. This year&amp;rsquo;s students were Andrea Butchko and Leslie Everett.
Lewis takes pride in how the project has been &amp;ldquo;handed down&amp;rdquo; each year.
Both girls and the coach took the plunge. Lewis said the key is to get a jump start, get in, then get out.
However, one swimmer won the prize for endurance by staying in the water for 25 minutes and 14 seconds. Dr. John Welgoss, 47, from Harveys Lake, bested the previous record of seven minutes.
The Cook&amp;rsquo;s Store in Lehman Center brought in more than $2,000 in sponsorships. Charlene Cook, 55, who partook in the wet workout, thanked her loyal customers for their support.
&amp;ldquo;This is the least we can do,&amp;rdquo; Cook said.
 She, like most others at the event, saw close family and friends fight the disease. 
She was joined by fellow Red Hat Society member Kay Steele, 71. Steele entered the water three different times.
 &amp;ldquo;I&amp;rsquo;m not even thinking of the temperature,&amp;rdquo; she said.
Steele, who also suffers from multiple sclerosis, raised more than $300 at a recent hockey game.
 &amp;ldquo;I rode around in my scooter and said, &amp;lsquo;If I can do this, you can donate,&amp;rsquo; &amp;rdquo; she added.
Pat Adonizio, a dentist from West Pittston and professional colleague and friend of Buddy Boris, joined his 9-year-old daughter Julia in the water. They psyched each other up before dipping, Julia said.
Emergency personnel from Harveys Lake Fire and Ambulance stood at the ready. Eric Pimm said each year the crews offer blankets to help swimmers when they get out but never get takers.
 &amp;ldquo;They are a rugged bunch,&amp;rdquo; he said.
&amp;ldquo;Put this on my bucket list,&amp;rdquo; said one swimmer.
on  the web

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&amp;ldquo;IT&amp;rsquo;S LIKE NEEDLES!&amp;rdquo;




Some swam out to touch the lake ice, others ran in and out.
 Russ Keeler, carrying his back-cleaning brush and wearing a bathing cap, wanted to be the first in and the last out.

Taking a frosty dip