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Posted on Sat, Feb 16, 2013 : 3:01 p.m.

Lake leapers come out in force to raise more than $20,000

By Lisa Carolin

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Wind-chill temperatures in the teens and snow flurries did not discourage dozens of diehards from jumping into Ford Lake this morning. From the Eastern Michigan University nurses' team to the Ice Ice Baby team, scores of brave souls took the icy plunge into Ford Lake.

The fifth annual Ford Lake Frozen Leap will benefit SOS Community Services, and the goal this year of raising $20,000 has been surpassed.

"This is our biggest year yet, and we may even hit $25,000," said Bilal Saeed, cofounder of Pakmode Media + Marketing, which created the Frozen Leap along with the Lake Shore Apartments' staff for the purpose of better engaging youth in the community.

Mike Hart, former star University of Michigan running back and current Eastern Michigan University running back coach, agreed to jump in shorts and a T-shirt if $20,000 was raised.

"It was cold but fun!" said Hart, who said he was both excited and nervous and likened it to his feelings before a football game. "I respect the cause (SOS Community Services). Up to the age of 14, I moved two or three times a year and remember the stress it put on my mother. I can only imagine how families who are truly homeless feel."

Participating for the first time was the Washtenaw County Sheriff's office and its team of 18 staff members. The team name is the Polar Pigs, which can be construed as the slang term for police or an acronym for "pride, integrity and guts."

"I asked a few deputies if they wanted to take part, and before you knew it I had staff asking if they could join the team," said Derrick Jackson, director of community engagement for the sheriff's department. "It's good for the community to see us giving back and to see us beyond the badge."

Jackson says that he felt more secure jumping this morning knowing that the sheriff's department dive team was on hand in case of emergency. Also standing by were the Ypsilanti Fire Department and the Washtenaw County Hazmat Response Team.

"It feels like a brief but complete shock to the system and like there's millions of tiny needles poking you all over," said Joel Diaz, who took the plunge for the third year in a row. "Call me crazy, but I'm actually at the point where I look forward to it every year,"

Diaz's team this year is the aptly named Soggy Bottom Boys, inspired by the singing group in the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Teammate Steven Linville was having a tough time getting warm even after he had taken a warm shower and gotten dressed following his leap.

"It was exhilarating and shocking," he said. "My body froze up when I hit the water but I made it out of the lake without needing help," he added, referring to the two members of the Washtenaw County dive team who were submerged in the lake wearing wet suits.

Both the Lakeshore Apartments and Pakmode had teams participating today. Saeed and Pakmode cofounder Tim Adkins were among the lake leapers on their team, the Frozen Pandas. Employee Chelsea Acho also took the brisk bound into the lake.

"Events like this don't happen too often and on a normal day you don't have any reason to jump into the lake in the middle of winter," said Acho, Pakmode's assistant general manager of sports marketing. "This gives you the opportunity to have fun with friends, meet new people and raise money for a local charity all in one."

SOS Community Services was invited to be the beneficiary of the Frozen Leap last year as well and used the money to support programs and services offered at SOS, including crisis services, emergency food, and temporary housing programs.

"SOS's food pantry served 7,571 people in 2012 and housed about 60 families including 100 children," said Chelsea Brown, community relations coordinator at SOS. "The Frozen Leap event is a reflection of how much of an impact can be made when a community comes together."

Diaz says that he loves being able to help SOS Community Services and participating in an event that takes place in Washtenaw County. He says that Pakmode does a lot to make Ypsilanti, his home town, a better place.

As far as convincing others to join the Frozen Leap next year, Diaz said, "It's definitely something that should be on everyone's bucket list. The moment you get out of the water, you feel more awake than ever before, just full of energy and excitement and this feeling of accomplishment that only doing something crazy can provide."

Comments

jns131

Sun, Feb 17, 2013 : 1:29 p.m.

Send me the video so I can watch it from my nice warm house.

Carole

Sun, Feb 17, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.

God bless you all who participated in this event. Hopefully, you had tons of warm fluids, blankets, etc. after getting out of the water. Best to you all.

pegret

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 3:39 p.m.

And hopefully a big party...INDOORS! What a cool thing to do!

Nicholas Urfe

Sat, Feb 16, 2013 : 10:59 p.m.

I am very relieved - I briefly thought this story was about Lake Leppers coming out in force!

jns131

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 2:40 p.m.

Watching a few too many zombie movies lately?

Katrease Stafford

Sat, Feb 16, 2013 : 10:12 p.m.

I'm happy to see they met and exceeded their goal of $20,000. That's a big increase compared to the $10,000 goal set last year. Who knows, maybe I'll brave the cold next year for a good cause!

tdw

Sat, Feb 16, 2013 : 9:53 p.m.

For some reason the photo of the Bulldog made me chuckle.Looks like a character from Star Wars

Ignatz

Sat, Feb 16, 2013 : 9:23 p.m.

That's amazing that so much money was raised. Good for all those folks!

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