OLD ORCHARD BEACH — About 325 people plunged into the Atlantic Ocean Friday at noon at the 22nd annual Lobster Dip, raising a record breaking amount of more than $71,000 for Special Olympics.
“We are just absolutely thrilled,” said Lisa Bird, spokeswoman for Special Olympics Maine. Last year the event had raised about $50,000, which had broken the organization’s previous fundraising records.
Bird said 2009 had been difficult financially and it was great to start the New Year with the funds, which she would provide “an unbelievable boost” to the organization.
Special Olympics President and CEO Phil Geelhoed was dipping in the event for the first time.
Geelhoed has been the CEO for six years and has worked at Special Olympics Maine for 23 years.
“I thought it was time,” he said, to participate in the dip.
In the moments before the dip, he stood at the beach in front of The Brunswick Hotel with the other dippers, waiting to race into the ocean.
“I feel wonderful,” he said. “I’ll have no feeling in a few minutes,” he joked.
He said he was thrilled that his first time running in the water was a record breaking day.
About 20 minutes prior to the dip, many dippers lingered in The Brunswick after registering, in an effort to stay warm before the plunge.
Rocky Frenzilli, dressed in a lobster suit, was one of the eager dippers who filled the hotel’s restaurant.
Frenzilli, of Falmouth, was one of the original dippers who participated when it consisted of just 13 people at East End Beach in Portland. He said that since the onset of the event, he has made it part of his New Year celebration and has dipped every year.
“It’s a great cause,” he said. He described the feeling as “cold in body, warm in heart.”
Eighteen-year-old David LeClaire was participating in the event for the third time.
Standing on the beach in a banana costume, he said he dipped “For the fun of it!”
He said his strategy was to go in and out of the water as quickly as possible.
“Run in the water, and then sprint as fast as you can into the hotel, as fast as you can. You just cruise,” he said.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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