NEW FRANKLIN: Nancy Smith decided to jump with style.
The 35-year-old Massillon resident, who goes by “Taking Names” when she’s working as either a blocker or jammer in the Akron-area NEO Roller Derby league, did a back flip into cold, cold water Saturday afternoon at Portage Lakes State Park.
As air temperatures hovered around 38 degrees, Smith and a couple of her derby teammates were among the first of several hundred people jumping off a dock and into Turkeyfoot Lake for the ninth annual Polar Bear Jump charity fundraising event.
“This is my fourth year doing it,” Smith said. “Our [derby] league is really charitable. It’s for a good cause.”
This year’s jump had record turnout and raised a record amount of money, organizers said.
Initial estimates showed about $80,000 was raised that will go to benefit three charities: the American Cancer Society, Stewart’s Caring Place Cancer Wellness Center and Camp Quality USA Ohio, a program for children with cancer.
Last year’s event raised more than $40,000 for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
About double the number of participants turned out this year than in 2011, organizers said.
Each jumper had to raise a minimum of $25 to participate.
Many people were in full costume of some sort. Some wore very little. At least one person planned to jump wearing a full three-piece suit with tie. Groups jumped in teams. One couple jumped in piggyback.
Canton resident Melissa Aller, 23, performed with a Hula-Hoop before diving in. This was her second year participating.
“Cold!” she said as she made her way back to shore. “But it was worth it.”
Unlike previous years, the lake was free of ice and snow. There were still a lot of people shivering as they stood in line to jump in, with much more pronounced shivering as they came out of the water and quickly trotted into heated changing tents to put on dry clothes.
“It’s exhilarating,” said Smith after finishing her jump. “It takes your breath away and let’s you know you’re alive.”
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.