Through the rain and into the bay: People plunge for seals and sea turtles
People run through the rain and into Onset Bay during the fourth annual plunge for seals and sea turtles hosted by the National Marine Life Center. Photos by Bobby Grady
Cassie Gross of Middleboro dances to the music of the Catnip Junkies.
Two people getting used to the cold temperatures of the water.
From left: Luke Swanson, Collin Griffith, Beth Silvia and Jim Whaley of the Catnip Junkies.
Lynn Coish feels the cold water as she runs into the bay.
Interim Executive Director of the National Marine Life Center Beth Sobiloff dances.
From left: Ben Marcotte, Luke Swanson, Collin Griffith and Jim Whaley.
Jan Coish, left and Lynn Coish dance before taking the plunge.
People run through the rain and into Onset Bay during the fourth annual plunge for seals and sea turtles hosted by the National Marine Life Center. Photos by Bobby Grady
Cassie Gross of Middleboro dances to the music of the Catnip Junkies.
Two people getting used to the cold temperatures of the water.
From left: Luke Swanson, Collin Griffith, Beth Silvia and Jim Whaley of the Catnip Junkies.
Lynn Coish feels the cold water as she runs into the bay.
Interim Executive Director of the National Marine Life Center Beth Sobiloff dances.
From left: Ben Marcotte, Luke Swanson, Collin Griffith and Jim Whaley.
Jan Coish, left and Lynn Coish dance before taking the plunge.
Instead of spending a rainy day inside watching the weather and hoping it'll change, people from across the South Coast ran head first into the cold waters of Onset Bay to help raise money for sea creatures.
The National Marine Life Center, a Buzzards Bay based organization dedicated to protecting marine life, hosted their fourth annual plunge into Onset Bay to raise money for seal and sea turtle rehabilitation on Sunday, Feb. 16.
The event had people charge through the rain and into the bay and according to the center's Interim Executive Director Beth Sobiloff, the event was still a successful fundraiser despite the weather deterring many people from participating.
"We have some seals right now and we find seal pups that have been abandoned on the beach or injured and we rehabilitate them until we can release them back into the wild," said Sobiloff.
She added that they were able to raise about $10,000 to help rehabilitate seals and sea turtles.
Before charging into the water, the plungers gathered for a small reception where a Rhode Island based jazz band called Catnip Junkies put on a show to help people get moving and warm their bodies up.
Katie Gross of Middleboro said she wanted to help raise money for the center and while she was a little nervous to plunge she still had one goal in mind.
"I still want to fully submerge myself," said Gross. "It's just a short time in the water so it'll be manageable."
When the time to plunge came, about 40 people ran out of the Onset Bay Center and into the water and while most went about waist deep and got out before the shock of the cold water wore off, Mary Turke of South Plymouth stayed floating in the bay.
"I thought it was pretty good and it felt good to stay in the water for awhile," said Turke.
Turke was one of the last plungers to leave the water, staying in there for three minutes.
"I was talking with a friend so I was able to just put my mind somewhere else," she said.
In addition to raising money for the National Marine Life Center, Turke said she wanted to participate because plunging into Onset Bay is a family tradition.
"My mom used to do it by herself and I figured if she could do it then so can I," she said.
Zackary Seabury came from Plymouth and said he has attended every plunge the center has done.
"That was fantastic, we've done this every year and I think this is the best one yet," said Seabury.
He added that he has been to several events the center has hosted to help raise money for marine life rehabilitation.
Gross shared similar feelings of wanting to do what she can to protect marine life.
"I really like the work that this group does and anything that we can do to help them and get people to donate is something that I want to do," she said.
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