Regional hospice to hold annual polar plunge

By CHARITY SMITH

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Wakefield — The Regional Hospice Services has been raising funds and bringing the community together through its annual polar plunge for the last 14 years.

The annual event has people of all ages raising money to jump into freezing cold water. Jumpers range in age from 9 to 93, with 40 committed jumpers expected to participate this year.

“Our goal is to raise awareness as to what we have to offer and of course to raise funds,” said Matt Agee, volunteer coordinator for Regional Hospice Services.

Registration for this year’s plunge will take place from 10:30am to 11:30am on March 14 at the Wakefield VFW Hall. The jump will be held at noon at Sunday Lake. Following the event there will be a warm-up social lunch back at the VFW Hall, which will feature a 50-50 raffle and food such as chili and hot dogs.

Regional Hospice provides hospice and palliative care services to people faced with terminal illness. The funds raised from this frigid and fun event will help to provide equipment, palliative care services, and allow for RHS to continue to make dying peoples final wishes come true through its “Catch a Dream” program.

“The Catch a Dream program is our take on the Make a Wish program,” Agee said. Recently it provided the opportunity for a dying man to get to attend a Minnesota Twins game, meet the team and go on the field for the first pitch.

All of these services and more are financially supported by donations and fundraising efforts such as the polar plunge. Last year Agee said the plunge brought in $13,000, this year he hopes it will raise $15,000 for RHS.

Still, it is the community involvement and show of togetherness that Agee says is really “a beautiful thing.”

People come from near and far to participate in this event, some even wear a costume or even a uniform. Tom DeCarlo, 93, of Ironwood, jumps every year, wearing his WWII uniform, in honor of veterans everywhere. Before each person makes their plunge into the frigid water, the name of the loved one for whom the person is jumping for is called.

“To me, it’s really neat to see the camaraderie of the community, because regardless of how old you are, we have all lost someone,” Agee said.

For more information on Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Services, please visit their website http://www.regionalhospice.org or call their office at 906-663-0308.