By Matthew K. Roy
BEVERLY — From the shore, it looked like they might have to run halfway to Salem to do what they promised to do in the frigid waters off Lynch Park — plunge.
The low tide increased the degree of difficulty yesterday for the more than 150 hearty souls who scampered through ankle-deep water until finally reaching an appropriate depth.
"It was extremely, extremely cold," said Steve Takach, 28, of Somerville after participating in Beverly's fourth annual Polar Plunge. "It was hard because the water was shallow and you just had to run out for so long."
But the fleeting suffering was endured for a good cause. Plungers raised money for the River House homeless shelter and the Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition.
"I am so excited to see so many people out here," Kate Benashski, director of the River House, said before she hit the water with a team from the shelter that raised over $800. "The community support has been extraordinary."
John Gallant, one of four River House residents who took the plunge, joked before the 12:30 p.m. start that he intended to swim to Salem.
"Might as well," he said, "live (life) to the fullest. Carpe diem, man."
Going into Saturday, 120 people had preregistered, said Kristin Anderson, program and development coordinator for the Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition. She expected the number of participants to exceed "well over 150" once the same-day sign-ups were tallied.
Young and old, from groups of elementary school students to parents and grandparents, ventured into the water. Many were first-timers, like Dave Fisher of Worcester. He does not expect to return next year.
"I can say I did it once in my life," Fisher said before posing for a post-plunge picture.
The goal is to collect $25,000 in donations.
"Last year we made $18,000, and I think this year we're going to go above and beyond that," Anderson said.
The event seems to be gaining more traction every year. South Boston has New Year's Day, Beverly has Super Bowl Sunday.
"It now has enough of a history and a tradition that people are getting really excited about it," Anderson said.
The temperature was in the mid-20s. As she waited to go in the water, Tina Loguidice, a physical education teacher at Cove Elementary School, hoped the large turnout might dull the bitter cold that she knew was awaiting her.
"More people in the water, maybe, the warmer the water will get," she said.
Ken Clarke, 32, of Beverly stood out with a dyed-green mohawk.
"This is only for this event, that's it," he said.
Anderson participated for the first time.
"I'm from California originally," she said beforehand. "I have no concept of how cold it's going to be."
But the experience, for all who plunged, served a vital purpose.
"We're going to be cold for a few minutes," Anderson said. "But by doing this, hopefully, we prevent somebody from having to be cold for a much longer time."
