KENNEBUNK — Okay. So it is 23 degrees outside and the water temperature is 40 degrees and you’re expected to just go plunge into the ocean.

How do you spell cold? How about f-r-i-g-i-d?

How do you spell ready? How about g-o f-o-r i-t?

Several dozen souls took that brave plunge Saturday at Gooch’s Beach to help Caring Unlimited provide services to more than 3,500 clients annually.

The Atlantic Plunge, postponed for a week because of snowstorms and high astronomical tides Jan. 1, is the foremost annual fundraiser for the agency, which  provides domestic violence services countywide.

In 2009, the Atlantic Plunge raised $23,000 for Caring Unlimited, down from $28,000 in 2008. While the totals weren’t available following Saturday’s icy dip, executive director Cindy Peoples and others were keeping their fingers crossed that the event would be a success. The 2010 Atlantic Plunge raised $16,000 prior to the actual event, the most pre-plunge funds ever raised, said Peoples, who hoped that was a signal that the actual dip, where folks could sponsor a plunger, would also prove lucrative.

 Peoples was a bit concerned that folks wouldn’t show up for the event because it had to be postponed, but as the clock ticked down to the 11 a.m. plunge time,  plungers began to gather on the beach, some wearing evening gowns and others, like a trio of teen boys, in vivid swim shorts.

Those in evening gowns were a bevy of “royals,” including Mrs. Maine International Kelly Howe and her daughter Miss Teen Maine U.S. Morgan Curley of South Berwick.

“Morgan and I stayed in the Caring Unlimited shelter back in the late 1980s,” said Howe, who, like her daughter, plunged into the icy water in a long gown. Howe said she and daughter Morgan were able to raise $1,700 for Caring Unlimited.

Joining Howe and Curley were Miss Maine Apple Queen Courtney Hammond of Brunswick, 23, Miss Sanford, Grace Curley, 7, and Miss Dexter, Natalie Claverie, 6. Claverlie’s mother, Sasha, said the 6-year-old has an awareness of domestic violence even at her young age and held a fund drive that raised 75 sets of pajamas and 75 books for domestic violence victims in the Dexter area.

Clinical social worker Scott Morse, who practices in Westbrook, was taking the plunge for the fourth time. He previously worked with both those who commit violence and victims of domestic abuse.

“I stopped working with perpetrators and now primarily work with victims,” he said. “As a social worker, I’m committed to helping people and Caring Unlimited does a good job.”

Prior to the plunge, teens Dylan Renell, 17, of Arundel, Clayton Spang, 15, of Kennebunk and Jacob Jorgensen, 15, of Kennebunk were standing in their colorful swim shorts, seemingly oblivious to the raw wind.

Jorgensen said he was taking the plunge as his Christmas gift to his mother, Ingunn Jorgensen, who was taking the plunge for the first time. Sister Mills Jorgensen was along for support.

“I’m nervous,” said Jacob Jorgensen. “It will be cold.”

Becky Wirtes of Kennebunkport, who organized the first Atlantic Plunge nine years ago, said the temperatures were warmer than in 2009, when the thermometers read 10 degrees below zero.

“It doesn’t get any easier,” said Wirtes, “but you can get warm and it’s for a good cause.”

There was one mishap. Hammond, the Maine Apple Queen, collapsed on the beach following the plunge and was carried to a warming bus by Republican Sheriff’s candidate Craig Gagne.

Physician Audrey Okun-Langlais, a 14-year-Caring Unlimited board member on hand for the event, treated the young woman. She was also checked by Kennebunk EMA personnel, who sped to the scene, but she did not require hospitalization. Okun-Langlais said the young woman was “fine,” but very cold and wet and was expected to recover after changing into warm, dry clothing.

— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.