If you had sand between your toes and found yourself wearing a bathing suit on a confusingly warm Christmas morning, you might have been standing on the Town Beach in Mattapoisett ready for a swim.
Such was the case for approximately 80 participants during the 14th Annual Christmas Swim in support of Helping Hands and Hooves, a local nonprofit that provides horseback riding lessons for persons with cognitive challenges.
“I ride Teddy,” Brendan Goss shared with a twinkle in his eye. Goss has been a riding student at the Mattapoisett-based program for 14 years and this was his 14th year running into the ocean at Mattapoisett Town Beach on Christmas morning.
Helping Hands and Hooves, as explained on their website, is a “therapeutic riding program that uses equine-oriented activity for the purpose of contributing positively to cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of the individuals with special needs.”
Participants received a tee shirt for an entrance fee of $15, and 100 percent of all monies raised went directly to fund the program.
Julie Craig, one of the program directors and instructors, said, “The program is going great. We’ve had more students going into the Special Olympics than ever before.” She was moved by the amount of community support they have received and the fact that that support is growing.
Craig said the organization currently has 15 students in the program, some of which receive private lessons from her. The monies raised through such events as the Christmas morning swim help in defraying the cost of lessons and the equipment needed, such as protective helmets. The aforementioned ‘Teddy’ is their therapy horse.
The crowd that came out to encourage those plunging into the 50-degree ocean waters neared 170, and with ambient air temperatures in the mid-60s, it certainly was a balmy Christmas morn.
Howard Tinkham, a local resident whose family has decades of history in Mattapoisett said, “I came out because I wanted to join in something fun for Mattapoisett.”
Brad Hathaway, another well-known local resident, came out on the fine morning.
“If you are going to write about this great weather, here’s something to write about: We spotted a Baltimore oriole on the twentieth,” said Hathaway. Hathaway is a long-time supporter of the program.
Magnar and Kathleen Kvilhaug were first timers at this event, and both planned on experiencing the event by going into the water. Kathleen laughed saying, “The children always wanted to do this, but they are in Southern California now.” Given the grand weather, the Kvilhaugs went in themselves.
Franck Tebou said he didn’t have much choice in whether or not he went in the water on this special day. Laughing, he said, “My aunt is Debbie Dyson.” Dyson is one of the principals in the program, but he said he was happy to participate in such a worthwhile event.
Yvonne Hitsman has been dashing into the cold water at this event for the past 12 years.
“When my mother passed away, I needed a reason to get up on Christmas morning,” Hitsman said. In memory of her mother, she now enjoys the excitement of the day in this way.
Bill and Walker Fuchs – a father and son team – have joined in this activity for the past four years. Bill said the weather was better than other Christmas mornings, such as the one when the beach had to be plowed to give the swimmers access to the water.
Darcy, Summer, and Max Richardson, a sibling trio who are regular participants in spite of their youthful ages of 8, 10 and 12 respectively, were ready to jump into the water with Summer exclaiming, “It is really warm today!” Afterwards, they were looking forward to heading to their grandparents in Boston, but Summer, well, she wasn’t planning on showering before heading to visit the grandparents, which prompted Darcy to announce, “But Mom said!”
And then there was Jack Czerkowicz, 6, a first grader at Center School whose career at this annual fundraiser is something he is very proud of – this was his second year. Jack said after the swim, “I thought it was warm!” He and his family were planning a day that included some time playing with his new soccer net and kayaking in the harbor.
For more information on the Helping Hands and Hooves program, visit www.helpinghandsandhooves.org.
Postscript: This reporter did the dunk for the first time encouraged by the fine weather and in spite of knowing the water would still feel frigid. It was cold, but well worth the effort. I’m not so sure, however, I will be as brave as most of these participants – those who have been willing to jump into the ocean year after year regardless of the finicky disposition of New England weather for a cause greater than themselves
By Marilou Newell
