MANSFIELD — When Sheila and Chad Schrack wanted to start a creative fundraiser towards cancer research, they wondered: would people jump into a lake?
It turns out, they will. And with that, the Polar Bear Dip: Cold for the Cure was born.
Now 13 years later, dozens of people jump in Charles Mill Lake every year on Jan. 1 to support the American Cancer Society and the LISA fund for Colorectal Cancer Research. The cause is personal for Sheila, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2006.
“You have to turn your pain into passion,” she said.
The Polar Bear Dip originated with Chad, who used to jump into Charles Mill Lake on New Year’s Day just for fun. Since Sheila’s diagnosis, the two have participated in Relay For Life and travel to Washington D.C. every year to advocate for more funding for cancer research. Chad even walked across the country this summer as part of Cancer Stroll to Fight Colorectal Cancer.
“We do extreme fundraising,” Sheila said with a laugh. “Everyone does a 5k.”
This year, 160 people jumped into Charles Mill Lake on New Year’s Day for the cause. It was double the amount of jumpers from last year, when snow was on the ground versus a balmy 40-degree jump on Tuesday.
“Some people have jumped every year, but the numbers change each year depending on who is affected,” Sheila said. “For some people it’s a bucket list item. For others, not very many people haven’t been affected by cancer in some way, if not themselves then a relative or friend.”
Richland Source’s own Tracy Geibel jumped in the lake on Tuesday as part of a fundraising initiative for the Source. For every new member who joins by the end of the day Jan. 1, Richland Source will donate $20 to the American Cancer Society, one of the two organizations that this event benefits.
Geibel said she jumped to support several family members who have been affected by cancer; her mother beat thyroid cancer while Geibel was in high school, and her father is currently battling bladder cancer.
“It was so cold, my legs are numb,” Geibel said immediately after jumping. “I feel like the only way I got back out was because (my fiancé) Nick dragged me back.”
Karlie Baker and Gary Utt of Mansfield are both veterans of the Polar Bear Dip. Baker said this year’s jump wasn’t nearly as brutal as years past.
“We didn’t do it last year because it was so cold; the year before that, they had to break the ice before we could jump in,” Baker said. “It’s something fun to do, and for a good cause.”
Utt said the water was definitely shocking, and colder than it originally seemed.
“It’s a tradition, and it’s something special we do here in Richland County,” Utt said.
Sheila Schrack said after 13 years, she hopes to see the Polar Bear Dip continue.
“I’m shocked that we’re still doing this but I’m excited,” she said. “It’s a pretty powerful thing.”
