Austin takes the plunge
Published 10:22 am Monday, February 17, 2014
Chad Thomas, right, and Jeremy Olson layout on their jump into East Side Lake Saturday for Plunging for Pink, part of Paint the Town Pink.
Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
PTTP event doubles money, participants in second year
It’s amazing what some people will do for a cause. Dressing up oddly, chanting wildly and jumping into a frozen lake, for example.
Strange as it is, people did it and it was for one of the best causes. Paint the Town Pink held its second annual Plunging for Pink fundraiser at East Side Lake Saturday afternoon.
Group by group took turns sliding out onto a board and jumping into the waiting cold of the lake.
While the idea wasn’t new, the evident success, even before the final tally, was noticeable to co-organizer Joe Muzik.
“It’s much bigger and much more organized,” he said. “Last year we had a 100 jumpers and this year we’re around 240.”
And that tucks right in line of what the committee behind Plunge for Pink set for a goal in its second year.
“Double the plungers and double the donations,” Muzik said.
Though 240 registered, Muzik said about 215 actually jumped, still well over the goal . The plunge also reached its goal of doubling last year’s $16,000 by raising about $37,000. The overall PTTP goal is $150,000.
The reward, of course, for those raising the money was a dip in a lake that had amazingly thick ice cut from its service.
Charity Sprandel didn’t mince words — or maybe she couldn’t — from the warmth of a hot tub after the group she was part of, Team GPP, took to the lake.
“Cold,” she said. “I had no thoughts, just keep my mouth shut so I didn’t swallow any lake water.”
There was really no way around it as she and other participants still had to make the run to the hot tubs. Again, it was a one-word answer.
“Cold,” she said even though she quickly added she would do it again.
This year’s Paint the Town Pink director Kathi Finley could only stand back and watch.
“It just blows me away, just to see the plungers and this many people who came out to watch,” she said.
Though the second-year success seemed obvious, it certainly wasn’t a surprise for Muzik.
“The entire community is fired up about Paint the Town Pink and finding a cure for breast cancer,” he said.
Kristy Mittelsted, from left, Mikayla Austin and Zane Klinger hit the water of East Side Lake.
Members of team Pacelli make the jump into East Side Lake Saturday during the Plunging for Pink for Paint the Town Pink.
Members of Team Akkerman make a splash during their plunge.
Members of Team GPP warm up in the hottubs.
Kathy, right, and Brenda Sorenson make the leap.
Billy Jack, a white lab belonging to Bob Mallory returns to Bob after retrieving on his dip in East Side Lake.
