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Swimmers plunge into Long Island Sound for a cause
By JANIE ROSMAN
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: January 2, 2007)



RYE

"Ten, nine, eight," began the countdown, and when it reached one, about 60 bathing suit-clad folks plunged into the New Year yesterday by plunging into Long Island Sound.

They gathered with close to 40 supporters - and some four-legged friends - at Oakland Beach to raise money for the Friends of Claire Foundation, named for Claire Gormley Collier, the sister of longtime Rye resident Phil Gormley.

Collier, who was diagnosed in 2003 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, watched from a balcony and said she was touched at the outpouring of love, support and camaraderie.

Each person who jumped into the Sound paid a small fee and got sponsors to support them. The only stipulation was no wetsuits, "just to make it more fun," said Ray Kelly, a triathlon team leader and triathlon instructor at the Rye YMCA.

Darrah O'Byrne of Rye stood in shorts, a sweatshirt and beige thongs, which he "took off at the minute because the sand is cold."

"There's quite a crowd here today," he said while looking around at the more than 100 people in various stages of undress.

"This is our ninth year," said Kelly. "At first I was the only swimmer, so it was called Ray's New Year's Day Dive." The following year, Gormley joined his friend in the water, "and then the turnout kept doubling."

"Most of them are seasoned athletes and know each other," said Caryn De Filippo of Rye, an instructor at the Rye YMCA. Her 20-year-old daughter, Lindsey, a nursing student at Villanova University, was one of the lifeguards.

New Rochelle resident Mary Anne Gallagher, soon to be 6, stood with her brother, Bill, 8, and their mother, Barbara, as their dad, Peter, made his way to the beach.

Each swimmer had to sign a waiver that indicated the dangers of diving into freezing cold water, and the group had to obtain a permit from the town of Rye.

"It's a shock to the system, colder than a cold shower," said De Filippo. The slight drizzle and humid air seemed mild compared to last year's chilly and snow-covered beach.

Make no mistake, these swimmers are not members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, which meets each New Year's Day on the Coney Island Boardwalk. But the weather didn't stop anyone from braving the water, which was about 40 degrees, and a few brave sports went back for a second dip.

"Everybody gets warm as quickly as possible after the swim. It usually takes about two hours before my feet feel normal," Kelly said.

Gormley is currently coaching for the St. Anthony's Triathlon in April, and Kelly is coach for the Panama City Triathlon in May, both in Florida.

"We were joking that today is the start of 2007 training for our team members," Kelly said.

He estimated the group raised close to $7,000 for the foundation, which supports research for and education about ALS, adding: "It's definitely a different way to start the new year."

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