River Hill Residents Participate in Polar Bear Plunge

Residents Allan Waschak, left, and his son, Mike, right, along with his plunge partner Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, recently took part in the Special Olympics Maryland Polar Bear Plunge. Their team of more than 40 members plunged into the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay to support Special Olympics athletes across the state.

The Allan Homes team — made up of local athletes and their families, physical therapists from the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland’s Clarksville office, and members of the Columbia Association Aquatics Management Team and their families — placed third, raising more than $31,000.

Because of subfreezing temperatures, participants were limited to plunging only knee-deep. This marked Allan’s 21st plunge and Mike’s 19th. Despite one of the coldest events on record, the team is already looking ahead to next year’s dip.