The unseasonably warm New Year’s Day temperatures made the tradition of jumping into the water at the Mattapoisett Town Beach less of a shock than in previous years.

About 200 people crowded the beach to “Keep on Plungin’” for the 10th year in memory of one person who lost his life to cancer and in support of others who struggle to maintain their lives as they know them while battling the illness.

It was a balmy 51 degrees at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 1 when all those gathered for the event dug their feet in the sand, ran over the seaweed washed up on the shore and jumped into the cold winter water.

Heather Bichsel, of Mattapoisett, and her husband, Michael Bichsel, have been at the forefront of the plunge since the beginning when it was planned as a fundraiser for their friend, Will Huggins, who succumbed to cancer six years after the first event.

Organizers, Bichsel said, decided to continue holding the fundraiser in Huggins’ memory and to help others being treated for cancer with financial assistance while they concentrate their efforts on improving their health.

“We wanted to keep this going for Will,” she said. “He’s definitely here with us. We can feel his presence. He would be proud.”

Marcia Anuszczyk, another organizer, said once donations and proceeds from T-shirt sales are collected, a cancer patient in need is identified as a recipient and a check is presented to that person.

“We keep doing this to raise money for local families in cancer care,” she added. “It makes a huge difference to them.”

While the concept behind the plunge is rooted in sadness, the event is a joyful one punctuated by shouts and laughter as participants splashed into the water then ran out to wrap themselves in dry towels. At times, the sun peeked through the clouds and temporarily glistened on the water, but soon after a cold wind blew to remind all those on the shore that it was, in fact, January 1, 2025. 

For eight-year-old Nicholas Szabo, of Mattapoisett, he wanted to Keep on Plungin’ because his friends did it and it looked like fun.

“It was cold,” he said while toweling off. “I wanted to put my head under, but I didn’t. I wish I did. I would do it again.”