MANSFIELD — Four longtime friends ran into Charles Mill Lake Friday, hoping to raise awareness and funds for Fight Colorectal Cancer.
The organizer of the traditional Polar Bear Dip Cold for a Cure, Chad Schrack and three friends recognized what would have been the 15th annual event by running into the freezing cold water on New Year’s Day.
Schrack of Kent, Brandon Sallee of Toledo, Brian Gearheart of Wadsworth and Leo Prince of Columbus took the plunge, while Schrack’s wife, Shelia watched from the beach.
“We felt like it was the responsible thing to not hold the Polar Bear Dip this year with COVID-19 in the high numbers in Ohio, but Chad and a couple of his friends who have done it since they started in 2007 wanted to honor it,” Shelia said. “We felt like it was a safe thing to do, being outside and having only a couple people jumping in.”
Shelia is a stage IIIc survivor of colorectal cancer, who has been in remission for more than 10 years.
When she was first diagnosed in 2007, Chad set out to raise awareness and money for cancer research by running into the freezing cold waters of Charles Mill Lake on New Years Day.
Family and friends joined. Then, the community got behind the cause, too. About 35 people took the plunge in 2007, but in more recent years, between 150 and 200 gather for the event.
Over the years, the event has raised more than $80,000 to fight cancer.
“Cancer has not gone away. Everyone talks about COVID — and they should — but cancer is still out there too and we got to keep trying to make a difference,” Chad said.
Shelia reminded people to schedule screenings for cancer, despite the pandemic. Screening can allow doctors to detect some cancers earlier, which may make them easier to treat.
“With COVID a lot of people have been putting screenings on the back burner, they might be afraid to do it, but the screenings are so important,” she said.
As Schack and two of his friends waited for the final friend to arrive Friday afternoon, they talked and laughed near the lake.
“This wouldn’t be the coldest year, but maybe it’s the most miserable,” Chad said. “Thirty-four degrees with rain. There’s nothing good about that.”
“It’s been colder. It’s been like 5 degrees a couple times, the winds been crazy, but it’ll be cold either way. It’s always cold in the waters,” Sallee said.
The three friends who were joining him had been deployed to Iraq with him in the 2000s.
Sallee and Gearheart had each only missed one year of the Polar Bear Dip. Gearhart had missed the year after his son was born, and Sallee had been deployed in Kuwait last year.
“I like ringing in the New Year in the cold water. It represents new beginnings. I’ve always liked the concept, and most of the time there’s a big group of us that do it together,” Sallee said. “And Chad and Shelia, they’ve done so much. It’s a small thing to come out and jump in the water.”
Gearheart joked about intentions to skip out this year, but when he had to miss the event last year, he attempted planning his own version to celebrate the new year.
“Chad asked me to do it, and I thought it was a dumb idea ever since he asked, but I keep showing up,” Gearheart said. “It’s actually really fun. We have a good time, lots of laughs and stuff. It’s a chance to see everyone, to hang out and to support a good cause.”
How you can help
Instead of gathering to run into Charles Mill Lake on New Years Day, those who would have liked to participate are encouraged to instead choose a creative, socially-distanced way to get cold to raise awareness of colorectal cancer between January 2 and 3, 2021.
Suggested activities include: bundling up for a chilly walk, creating a snow angel, building a snowman, taking an ice bath or even taking a cold shower for those living in warmer regions of the country. Anyone, anywhere is encouraged to participate.
The Schracks said they feel this is the perfect way to show the relentless spirit of cancer survivors and ring in the new year with hope.
“Thirty seconds of being cold is worth it knowing we are one step closer to overcoming cancer,” Sheila said. “Let’s get cold for a cure. We encourage everyone to join in on the fun and hope for a safe and happy 2021.”
Advocates joining in the fun are asked to share their experience on social media using the hashtag #ColdForACure and/or make a donation in support of the cause.
