Thousands of people descended on Rehoboth Beach last weekend. They didn't come to bask on the beach in the sun. Early February doesn't lend itself to that.
They came instead to feel the intense sting of jumping into 43-degree ocean water and experience the true sense of accomplishment from raising money - lots of money - for Special Olympics Delaware.
After the jump, their hair filled with salt and sand, bundled in sweat pants, huge beach towels and bathrobes, they huddled in groups - children and adults - to chatter about the plunge. One group of middle-aged men talked about two friends who had shown up unexpectedly, raising the total funds generated by their group into the thousands of dollars. They were all smiles.
When the beach cleared and fully suited first responders sloshed in from the sentinel positions where they guarded against mishaps, Special Olympics personnel tallied. In all, they announced, more than 3,500 men, women and children made the leap this year. Their pain made for gain.They raised more than $900,000 to help fund competitions and activities that give joy and purpose to people who need a little extra help from all of us. They elected to help smooth out the rough edges that are so much a part of life.
Almost a million dollars of smoothing generated by less than a minute of icy immersion. Impressive doesn't do it justice. Spectacular comes fairly close.
The annual plunge not only helps the 4,000 Special Olympics Delaware athletes who participate in the many programs funded by the event, it also brings a welcome economic boost to our beach economy at the quietest time of the year. Restaurants, motels, hotels and stores felt the extra business. All of downtown Rehoboth Beach felt the extra energy generated by festival tents, sandcastle builders, ice-block sculptors, and the 5K running and walking race enjoyed by hundreds.
Away from the din of partisan politics, finger-pointing, second-guessing and negativity, Special Olympics Delaware and its army of plungers showed what good can be done joyfully. How refreshing is that? Almost as refreshing as splashing in ice water to wake yourself from winter.
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Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
