(Photo: WBOC)OCEAN CITY, Md.- Hundreds voluntarily jumped into the frigid waters of the Atlantic on New Year's Day as part of the 19th Annual Penguin Swim in Ocean City. The goal of the event is to raise money for the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation.
For some first timers to the event, just before the swim, they started to question what they had gotten themselves into.
"My friend here, we're both on the Ocean Pines board of directors, and we are representing Ocean Pines, and we've lost our minds," said Sharyn Ohare of Ocean Pines.
For some, simply jumping into the ocean wasn't enough. Numerous people went out of their way to dress head-to-toe in costume like it was Halloween. Everything from Elvis, to Avatar to a player for the Redskins. And while having fun is certainly a priority, those who attended were aware of the bigger cause of raising money.
"Just going around asking family and friends and co-workers and everybody actually comes to me and wants to donate every year. It's a good cause," said Woody German of Baltimore who said he raised about $2,000.
"It's for the hospital and the charity. It's the right thing to do every year. And self-expression doesn't hurt either," said Donald Ogrince of Ocean City.
The hundreds who turned out for the 19th Annual Penguin Swim helped raise over $80,000 for the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation.
