Participants in Waukegan’s Polar Bear Plunge expressed a variety of reasons they chose to venture into Lake Michigan’s frigid New Year’s Day waters.
For many like Chuck Castellanos, it is an annual tradition. He organizes a group to join him each year.
“If you do this on the first day of the year, the rest of the year can just get better,” he said.
An event designed to raise money to fund special recreation, for David Huebner the plunge had a unique impact. He walked in and out of Lake Michigan on two legs. One is a prosthesis. He participated as part of a group of more than 10 employees and customers of Green Town Tavern.
“It was very invigorating,” he said. “I’ve done it every year for the past few years.”
Huebner and Castellanos were among 524 people who walked, ran or jumped into Lake Michigan in the 26th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge Wednesday at Waukegan Beach, raising more than $20,000 for Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County.
Sponsored by the city of Waukegan and the Waukegan Park District, David Motley, the city’s public relations director, said approximately 1,000 more people lined the beach area to watch the event. The air temperature was 28 degrees.
At the outer limits of the area in the lake where participants could venture were four members of the Waukegan Fire Department wearing fully insulated yellow suits made for the frigid temperatures. It was 38.1 degrees in the lake, according to the Sea Temperature Info website.
Heubner said he lost his right leg 14 years ago in an industrial accident. Through a lot of effort, he can now do most anything he chooses, including joining the Green Town group for the plunge.
“I can do everything I want to do,” he said.
Castellanos said he has participated in the plunge for the past 14 years, including the virtual event in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. His son Flynn has joined him for the last several years. The cause is worthwhile and the event promotes comradery among the group, he said.
JoAnn Flores-Dieter has taken the plunge for all 26 years of the event. She said the first time she learned of it was when she saw a sign driving home from her shift at the hospital. She followed the signs and ventured into the lake.
As she has the past few years, Flores-Dieter had company as her sons Marlow, 13, and Beckett, 10, joined her. They both did it their first time when she was pregnant with them.
“I thought it was going to be cold, but when I went in it was freezing,” Beckett said of last year’s event before trying it again.
A Waukegan native now living in Evanston, Flores-Dieter said returning to her hometown each New Year’s Day is special for her and her family. She is passionate about the cause, and gets others to donate as well.
“Every time I come here, it’s amazing,” Flores-Dieter said. “It’s a chance to support the community, and it’s always a winner.”
Local businesses like the BCU credit union — the lead sponsor this year with a $2,600 donation — and American Place Casino both participate by fundraising and bringing employees to the lakefront for the frigid dip.
Josue Pasillas, the communications supervisor for the Park District, said BCU is the event’s “anniversary sponsor,” giving $100 for each year of the event. It goes a long way in helping special recreation.
Brandon Ewing, the regional director for BCU who is also the president of the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education, said this was his second year participating.
“It was cold, but invigorating,” Ewing said after his dip. “It’s very important to be here helping the community and the cause. Being involved with diversity, equity and inclusion is an important part of our mission.”
Julie Ivic, American Place’s director of communications, came with two of her colleagues. Coming to Waukegan from Bay St Louis, Mississippi, located on the Gulf of Mexico, she said she was a little apprehensive.
Ivic said being part of the community is a commitment American Place has made, and has been involved with a variety of civic events like bringing volunteers to help clean the beach during Earth Week, among other activities.
“I was semi-confident that I would run in and get fully wet, until I felt the water and realized that this is a marathon not a sprint,” Ivic said after hitting the water. “Nothing says I’m alive quite like an icy wake-up call. Overall, great experience and I plan on going full-on next year”
