MATTAPOISETT — The people who took to the waters of Mattapoisett on Sunday, Jan. 1 had a great day to get their feet wet in the waters of Buzzards Bay. 

They joined the organization “Keep on Plungin’” for an annual New Year’s Day polar plunge at the Mattapoisett Town Beach. 

Last year, wrote the group in a Facebook post, the 2022 polar plunge raised over $2,500 which was split between the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and a local family dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

This year, swimmers lined up on the wet sand at 12 p.m., and ran into the water up to their waist, chest, or however deep they could manage in support of another local family dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

According to Heather Bichsel, who helped organize the plunge, money is still coming in as of Wednesday, Jan. 4, but they have raised $2,500 so far this and are expecting at least $500 more. 

Anyone who didn’t take the plunge could buy a t-shirt, hot chocolate or a baked good to show their support and help raise money. 

According to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information, the water in Buzzards Bay was around 40 degrees when the swimmers plunged into the water off Mattapoisett Town Beach at noon, about three degrees colder than the water temperature on Jan. 1, 2022.