On Saturday, Feb. 11, a handful of daring individuals will be waking up at 10 a.m. for an ice bath in Ford Lake — but it’s for a good cause. Saturday marks the fourth annual Ford Lake Frozen Leap.
The Ford Lake Frozen Leap is an annual charity event where volunteers get sponsored to jump into the freezing water.
“We ask people to raise money for their team and then jump into Ford Lake in the middle of February. It’s kind of a crazy idea,” said Tim Adkins, managing partner at Pakmode Media Marketing and co-organizer of the Ford Lake Frozen Leap.
“There are other fundraisers like it like the Polar Plunge, but we wanted to do it for our own local non-profits and we have a lot of fun doing it.”
The Ford Lake Frozen Leap is like many other team-based charity events. Brave participants form teams of at least three members willing to make a daring dive into the frozen Ford Lake. Each team member must raise $50. An award will be given to the team and individual team member that raises the most money.
Sponsors hope to raise $10,000 to top past year’s funds. With just a week before the event, Adkins said, “We have about 16 teams already registered and we’ve already raised over $4,000 — almost halfway to our goal.”
This year, the Ford Lake Frozen Leap will benefit SOS Community Services, which is a cause that Adkins thinks is worthwhile.
“For the amazing work they do with the homeless community, it’s a sentiment you can really get behind,” Adkins said.
SOS is a non-profit organization that, as described on its website, started at Eastern Michigan University and has made it its mission to diminish homelessness and end hopelessness in Washtenaw County. What began as a hotline for moral support has developed into a system to help families achieve housing stability.
“Probably the best part of the Frozen Leap is knowing that you were a small little fraction that made a difference,” Adkins said.
According to Adkins, not only will you be able to support a good cause, but you can also have a shared experience with your community.
“Once you do it you’re part of this little club that can talk about the experience, that moment of panic the second you touch the water, and once you get out everyone’s cheering you on. It’s a cool feeling and very fulfilling,” Adkins said. “You’ll talk about it next year deciding which type of jump you’ll do this time, a cannon ball or a pencil jump.”
According to Joel Diaz, a third-time jumper and EMU student, a big draw to the event is being able to do something.
“Most people would categorize it as crazy. It’s really just an awesome event to meet a lot of people, help out a good cause and do something most people wouldn’t be brave or possibly stupid enough to do.”
While the Ford Lake Frozen Leap tends to attract participation from more adventurous students, there are a lot more who simply come out to cheer on the leapers.
“A couple hundred people just come out to watch. We encourage them to donate and participate, and every year, two or three people with no intention of jumping end up joining in,” Adkins said.
According to Diaz, it’s certainly worthwhile.
“At the very least you get an awesome picture for your Facebook profile and a great story about how you went above and beyond to help someone in need. And did I mention the special edition/coveted shirts they print each year for the participants?”
While plunging into freezing water might not seem appealing, Frozen Leap sponsors make sure their jumpers to go in style.
After taking a dip in the deep, participants will be wrapped in a hot towel cocoon, hosed down with warm water and tucked into a heated changing tent to “put on warm dry clothes as fast as possible,” Adkins said.
Jumpers are encouraged to deck themselves and team members out in costume to add to the frozen festivities.
The fact is there’s, “Not a whole lot of outdoor activities to do in Ann Arbor or Ypsi in the middle of February,” Adkins said. “It’s nice just to have something you can do that’s right here that has a direct impact on the community. In the past, winter’s gotten here just in time for the week of the leap. If not the water will definitely still be cold enough.”
While diving into the freezing Ford Lake might not be easy, “It’s on a lot of peoples’ bucket list: to skydive and to jump into a lake in the middle of winter,” Adkins said.
If you’re feeling up to the challenge, you can join the frozen leap by visiting www.crowdrise.com/fordlakefrozenleap or by dropping by the Lake Shore Apartments leasing office at 2500 Lake Shore Blvd. to register. The last day to register is Feb. 11, and the deadline to donate extends to Feb. 12.
