Jump Right In, the Water's Fine

K.C. Latham's chosen field is insurance, but the Reading High school grad knows that nothing beats a day at the beach. In February. In Gloucester. In the freezing cold.

As president of the Rotary Club of Reading, Latham will lead his team of club members in the sixth annual Polar Plunge at Long Beach in Gloucester, Feb. 4. The goal is to raise money to eradicate polio, the signature cause for Rotary International. So far those participating include Tim Kelley, Sam Johnson, John Doherty, Greg Johnson, Craig Kelly, Eric Caligiuri, Allison Foley, and Latham. Members of the Reading High Interact Club will also join in.

When it comes to taking the plunge, some years are better than others. And last year ... we'll let him explain.

"Last year was brutal. I want to say it was 17 degrees out and there was a Northeast win blowing over 20. So that was awful.

"See, normally when you jump in, if it's not too windy, you run in, you dive in, and you're kind of numb. And you walk out. But last year with the wind, when you're soaked, that was awful. And it was awful waiting from the time you have to disrobe to the time you jump in, it was brutal, because the wind-chill was well below zero.

So how does he practice, maybe a few cold showers?

"You don't practice but I'm going to make sure everyone from rotary runs and dives in. A lot of people don't. A lot of people run up to their knees and run out, that doesn't count. You have to dive in. As soon as you go in you numb up. It's really not as bad as it sounds."

Hopefully his fellow participants are listening. And if they hesitate, maybe a reminder about the goal would help.

"The goal is to eradicate polio. It probably would have been completed by now if not for some of the problems going on," said Latham referring to the challenges in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan. Last year's event included 45 Rotary clubs and raised almost $100,000. Go to Readingmarotary.org to read more and contribute.

Saturday's Gloucester weather is expected to be cold, with a high of 29. Sounds like a beach day.