OCEAN CITY, Md. -- As the first rays of the New Year's sun kissed the shores of Ocean City, thousands of spirited individuals gathered at the 91st Street beach to plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. The occasion? The 30th Annual Penguin Swim, a longstanding tradition that not only marks a chilly kickoff to the year but also supports Atlantic General Hospital.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as participants. Ranging from those donning bathing suits to others dressed in elaborate costumes or even formal suits, albeit colorful ones.
Ed Geis, a seasoned participant, captured the essence of the event.
"I love it, the atmosphere you can't beat it," said Geis. "You know people say we're crazy to do this, I say you don't have to be crazy, but it helps, and you're just around hundreds, if not thousands, of equally crazy people."
The event, now in its third decade, welcomed a diverse crowd, including some four-legged friends and creative characters like a man dressed as Papa Smurf, decked out with blue body paint and all. Butch Lorditch, who transformed into the Mad Hatter, revealed the effort behind his elaborate costume.
"This took about two, three hours, makeup took two hours," said Lorditch.
Despite the ocean proving to be less than costume-friendly, with Lorditch humorously admitting to losing parts of his ensemble to the cold waters, the participants reveled in the unique experience. The water temperature, a crisp 44 degrees, couldn't deter the enthusiasm, especially with the sun shining brightly, turning the day into a perfect setting for a January swim.
"It's really not that bad. The worst part is your feet are really cold because you're standing in the sand so long without shoes, and then going in the ocean," said Corinne Krasner. "But I've gone in twice; I think I'm actually going to go in one more time, and it's honestly, it feels really nice."
The event, not just a whimsical plunge into the ocean but also a significant fundraiser, was chaired by Steve Green, Chairman of the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation.
Green emphasized the local impact of the funds raised.
"It all goes towards making the community hospital better," said Green. "Everything is going to stay here at our community hospital for our facilities, for our physicians, to make the healthcare system more available for our public."
This year's goal of raising $76,500 was surpassed as participants rallied together and raised over $100,000. The 30th Annual Penguin Swim not only marked a very cold and crazy way to kick off the New Year but also stood as a testament to the warmth of community spirit.