Members of the "Ice Dogs" (back row) left to right: Zachary Bronder, non-HRSA employee; Tim Coyle, (in mask) HRSA; Lorah Tidwell, HRSA; Kevin Noyes, non-HRSA employee, (front row) left to right: Mike Kozar, non-HRSA; Matt Kozar, HRSA; Tanya Gazdik, HRSA; John Gazdik, HRSA.

With the water a toe-numbing 33 degrees and the air temperature 20 degrees and falling, mother-and-son team Tanya and John Gazdik and several stalwart HRSA employees ran boldly into the Chesapeake Bay to raise money for Maryland Special Olympics.

During the 13th annual Polar Bear Plunge, sponsored by the Maryland State Police at Sandy Point Park near Annapolis, John and his team, aptly called the “Ice Dogs,” barreled into the frosty spray. With a steady bay breeze chilling them further, the team focused on their goal — to honor $1,500 in pledges from fellow HRSAns, friends and family by taking the Plunge.

The Ice Dogs weren’t alone. About 11,000 people from all over the state showed up for the January 24 event — reputed to be the largest of its kind worldwide. Altogether, participants raised more than $2.5 million to help 10,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities be a part of Special Olympics’ athletic programs and competitions at no cost.

With two Plunge times scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m., the Ice Dogs arrived at Sandy Point by school-bus caravan about 10 o’clock that morning and spread out on the beach to prepare for the first frigid dip.

The team, which formed for last year’s event, made their way to the propane-heated, circus-size tents — one for men and one for women — got out of their winter gear and into their bathing suits. Then they headed toward the cold, wet sand at water’s edge and went in — as far as they could for as long as they could.

Quite a few “plungers” stayed in for as long as two minutes, John reported, with some fully immersing themselves before running to the tents to warm up. Others put just a toe in the water, “but that counted,” he said.

Staying in the icy bay for 15 or 20 seconds seemed “like a long, but good time” to John, especially since vendors with hot chocolate and food were waiting back on shore.

When asked what motivated him to take the Plunge, he said: “It’s for a good cause — and for the bragging rights!”

John, who works in HRSA’s Office of Financial Assistance Management (OFAM), learned about the event last year while listening to 98 Rock. “It sounded like fun, so we started talking about it and got a bunch of people together who share our commitment. That’s how we became the Ice Dogs.”

This year’s other HRSA Ice Dog Plunge participants included Tim Coyle, OFAM; Lorah Tidwell, Healthcare Systems Bureau (HSB); Matt Kozar, HSB; and John’s mother Tanya Gazdik from the Office of the Administrator.

After chronicling the experience last year, Tanya, who said, “I usually don’t do water colder than 80 degrees,” braved up to make the Plunge. She thought the crowd’s enthusiasm was overwhelming.

“You would never have guessed how cold it was that day, but I felt warmth and satisfaction in doing something so worthwhile. I look forward to next year. But beware,” she warned, “I might convince some other HRSAns to do it, too!”