Save The Harbor/Save The Bay's Shamrock Splash Returns For Another Cold Dip

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The official start of spring is more than a week away, but a group of swimmers acted like it was summer at Constitution Beach in East Boston Sunday afternoon.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay held its 14th annual Shamrock Splash fundraiser, gathering more than 100 beachgoers dressed in St. Patrick's Day-inspired outfits and other costumes to jump into the water.

Organizers said Sunday's event raised $50,000 for Save the Harbor's Better Beaches Grant Program, which helps in part to make local beaches more accessible.

"We have multiple days this summer where we’re going to be turning beaches completely accessible for folks who use wheelchairs or have mobility issues," Partnerships & Program Development Director Maya Smith told WBZ NewsRadio. "We also help to tackle issues of transportation by getting busses to bring people out from their neighborhoods to the region’s public beaches."

The water's temperature was a chilly 39 degrees Fahrenheit, though it did not stop people from taking the plunge.

"It’s honestly not that bad," one couple said. "We did a Polar Plunge in Maine three weeks ago and it was 22 degrees and the water was, like, 30 degrees. So this is like a summer plunge, honestly."

Bob also wasn't afraid to take a dip.

"Well I’m used to it, I do it every year, I’ve been doing it for about 10, 12 years," Bob said. "But I just jump in and out. It’s a plunge, it’s not a swim. I spend more time in the bathtub."

"[It's] a little cold, but it’s for a great cause, so, you know, [I'm] willing to make that sacrifice every year," another swimmer said.

The event did have something to help warm up participants afterwards: a party with free beer and food.

WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausville) reports.

Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok