Under cloudy skies and the Choptank River at a chilly 34 degrees, the Hyatt Regency’s waterfront was temporarily transformed on Saturday into a scene of joyful defiance against the winter, as dozens of community members gathered for the Cambridge Rotary Club’s inaugural “Choptank Chill & Cheer” polar plunge.
Blending family-friendly fun and heartfelt support for an important local cause, the event drew brave souls of all stripes – athletes, families with kids, and even local politicians – to raise visibility for the Mid-Shore Council of Family Violence, a nonprofit that has served survivors across the Mid-Shore for over 40 years.
By taking the plunge, participants earned the right to a dip in the hotel’s hot tub and hot chocolate back to the warmth of the resort’s Water’s Edge Grill, a scenic venue overlooking the river and private beach.
Inclusivity was key to the event’s success, Cambridge Rotary President Angie Hengst said. Attendees could choose to plunge or not, cheer on others from the shore, and enjoy the festivities. She noted about 88 registrations, with flexibility allowing last-minute decisions.
“We saw a niche after the Santa Swim ended,” she said. “Cambridge needed a polar plunge, and this fit perfectly.” The idea originated with Catherine Roper, a seasoned event planner, Rotary member, and MSCFV’s development director.
Drawing from past plunges and Rotary’s longstanding ties to the organization, including its 2008 sponsorship of Rotary House, which provides transitional housing for survivors in Centreville, Roper saw an opportunity to blend fun with meaningful impact.
“With miles of riverfront, Cambridge felt like the perfect place to ‘float’ this idea again, a bear-suit clad Roper said. “The early support of a Rotary member who worked at the Hyatt ultimately led to the resort coming on board as the presenting sponsor. What started as an idea quickly became a reality through the strong collaboration of the Cambridge Rotary Club, the Hyatt, and MSCFV.
Participants including Cambridge Mayor Lajan Cephas-Bey (left) and State Delegate Tom Hutchinson (right) braved the cold to help Rotary support the Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence.
Executive Director Jeanne Yeager said the event highlighted the partnership’s importance for MSCFV, which offers a continuum of care from crisis shelters to employment assistance and housing for survivors. While primarily funded by grants, community events like this are nonetheless crucial for engagement and supplemental funding.
“We like to engage with the community because our clients come from our communities,” she said. “So this is a great partnership to have the Rotary clubs helping our work in providing an environment of safety and self-sufficiency for victims of violence.”
Pre-plunge, festivities created a warm contrast to the icy waters with live music and encouragement from volunteers in polar bear costumes who danced among the crowd amid a chant of “Bringing the warm in, bringing the cold down.”
Friends Brittany Medford of Easton (left) and Jordon Taylor of Cambridge (right) stuck to their go-to summer swimwear despite 34-degree water temperatures.
At a signal from Hengst, at about 2:30, a few dozen brave souls charged into the river from the Hyatt’s private beach. Some dashed in swimsuits, others fully clothed; a few waded to knee-deep before retreating with shrieks and laughter, while hardier participants submerged fully. Complimentary towels and access to the resort’s facilities ensured no one lingered in discomfort.
Among them was Cambridge Mayor Lajan Cephas-Bey, who didn’t mince words: “It was extremely cold,” she said. “But once you are in there, your senses shut down, and then you don’t feel anything.” More importantly, the Mayor said, was the idea of raising awareness for families affected by violence and energizing civic fundraising.” State Delegate Tom Hutchinson also took the dip, lending high-profile support to keeping domestic violence issues in the spotlight.
People came for other reasons, too. Cambridge resident Jordon Taylor did it in memory of his brother, an avid cold-plunge enthusiast who passed away this year. “I’m happy to be out here getting cold with him,” she said, holding back a tear.
Taylor’s friends, Shawn and Brittany Medford from Easton, brought their two children to join her, offer support, and have some fun.
Coldness is obviously just a state of mind as indicated by these Chill & Cheer participants.
“This was great for Cambridge, that so many people came out,” Medford said. Her 7-year-old daughter, Sadie, at first bereft at losing her nerve to jump in the river, brightened up with the post-plunge outdoor hot tub next to the beach.
Roper said the success of the first year was not just the turnout, but the feeling in the room. “I would define success more by the conversations that were sparked, the new relationships that were built, and the sense of pride people carried into the new year, braving the cold in support of the life-saving work of the Mid-Shore Center Against Family Violence,” she said.
Special thanks to Doug Fields for contributing photos to this story.
The plungers required some traffic mitigation by a bear who may or may not be event organizer Catherine Roper, a Cambridge Rotary member who works as Director of Development at the MSCFV.
Good idea, Cathy Roper.