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For people who like cold weather, Saturday Feb. 13 was their
day. With several feet of snow still on the ground, air temperatures below
freezing and water temperature at 36 degrees, a hundred or so strong-hearted
people braved the elements to take part in the third annual Polar Plunge.

The plunge is a fund-raising event for the Brandywine Valley
Association. Participants jump into the Brandywine Creek at the Brandywine Picnic
Park, wade or swim across to the west bank, then return.

Jim Jordon, the executive director of the BVA was
anticipating close to 300 plungers, but to the casual observer no more than 100
took part.

“Our goal was 275 plungers,” Jordon said before the event.
“I’m hoping we make that. Last year we doubled what we got the first year so we
plan on at least a 50 percent increase...Each plunger has a pledge form and
they solicit their teachers, their co-workers. We have some plungers that raise
over $1,000.”

Jordon said the BVA received $10,000 from the first two
years. That money has gone toward the BVA’s environmental education and
watershed conservation projects

Liz Witcher, 17, and a senior at Kennett High School has
taken part in the event since its inception. She’s plunged the previous two
years, is a BVA summer camp counselor and an event volunteer.

“It’s fun because you don’t really realize you’re cold until
you get half way back and you almost feel the blood freezing in your legs. But
you can see the shore and say ‘I can see the shore. It’ll be OK.’”

Witcher said she does it for the bragging rights of saying
she ran into a freezing creek and because the BVA is a good cause.

“I’m definitely an earth junkie. I’m totally into let’s save
the land and stuff. I’m president of Earth Club.”

Rachel Donley, of West Chester University said after the
plunge that the experience was invigorating.

“I feel, really, really freezing cold but good. Definitely
good.”

Said she did it “for the heck of it. It sounded like fun.”

Her friend, Dan Henderleiter, also from WCU, likened the
plunge to a double shot of caffeine.

“I feel awesome. I feel so good.  I feel awesome, but like I’m going to be awake forever,
though. It woke me up. I was a little tired earlier, but I got some coffee in
me. Now I feel great. It feels awesome to be here,” he said.

The Brandywine Valley Association is the oldest small
watershed in the country, founded in 1945 for the protection and conservation
of the natural resources of the Brandywine Watershed. Its mission is for the
“restoration, preservation, conservation and enjoyment of the resources of the
Brandywine Valley through education programs, environmental studies and
projects and technological advocacy,” according to a BVA fact sheet.