Imagine diving into icy cold water off the New Hampshire coast. No, not in July. In late February.
Ray Keefe can. He's done in 13 times before and the Lowell native is looking forward to a 14th plunge next month.
Keefe is the organizer of the Keefe Family Polar Plunge. The first plunge featured just he and his daughter, Isabel, now a UMass Lowell student. Last year's plunge, which raised $44,000 for a local woman, featured about 125 plungers off the coast of Seabrook Beach.
Keefe raises money each year for a deserving member of the community. He has nothing against charity golf tournaments, but those events feature plenty of expenses. His polar plunge has very little overhead, so nearly 100 percent of all money raised goes right to the individual or family.
This year's event is being held to benefit Shawn Mulligan, a 56-year-old Lowell man who was recently diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, multiple myeloma. The cancer is not curable, but it is treatable.
Keefe, who lives in Hollis, N.H., is hoping for another big turnout on Saturday, Feb. 26. Yes, jumping into the Atlantic Ocean in late February is a bone-chilling experience, especially when temperatures that day, at noon, are likely to be below freezing. And if the wind is gusting, well, more than a little courage is going to be required.
But Keefe and other people who have made the Keefe Family Polar Plunge a yearly ritual say any pain is worth it when a local family is going to benefit.
To donate by check, make the check out to Shawn Mulligan and mail to: Ray Keefe, 63 Nevins Road, Hollis, N.H., 03049. To make an online donation, go to PayPal at info@prepressplus.com and make a note to: Shawn Mulligan, or Venmo to: @Ray-Keefe, reference: Shawn Mulligan.
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