Greeting the New Year (Frozen) Clam-Style

by | Jan 1, 2015

More than 125 people ran headlong into into the cold water and the new year at Goddard Park beach Thursday, in the fourth annual Frozen Clam Dip. With the air temperature at 32 degrees and the water as just a few degrees higher, for many it was a statement.

 

“What better way to start 2015 than say, ‘Welcome to New England.’ I just moved up from Atlanta and I’ve never done anything like this,” said Matt Leathers of East Greenwich, adding, “It’s for a good cause.”

The cause is the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership, which promotes the expansion of mentoring – matching young people in need of extra adult support with mentors. The man behind the Frozen Clam – the grand motivator who leads the charge into the water (see photo above) – is Ryan McGowan of Laid-back Fitness in Warwick.

Here are some photos from the event:

Joyce and Curtis Rookstool of West Warwick. “Why are we doing this? It’s on our bucket list and Santa Claus wants to lose his belly,” said Joyce, referring to Curtis, who said he’d joined a gym to make it happen.

clam 10 clam 7

Plunging in.

clam 9 clam 11

clam 12 clam 13

A bagpiper – but not his pipes! – gets wet. He played into the water and back out again.

clam 14

Family plungers.

clam 1

Whew – that’s over! 

clam 4

The Hanley family of Riverside: from left, Nick, Donna, Pat and Natasha.

clam 2

Frostbiters from Foxborough, Mass.

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George
January 1, 2015 8:05 pm

Awesome!

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