Sea of love
By CHRISTINA VEGA • COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU • February 15, 2009






MANASQUAN — As 15 married couples stood on the Main Beach in Manasquan to renew their vows, taking the plunge again could never be translated more literally.

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Manasquan Valentine's Day Plunge
Joan Dancy and PALS


No more than a minute later, the brides, who wore veils; the grooms, who wore tuxedo T-shirts; and more than 400 others made a mad dash for the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean — a mere 39 degrees.

"This gives cold feet a whole new meaning — for a good cause," said the Rev. Myrna Bethke, a minister with the United Methodist Church of Red Bank, who led the vow renewal ceremony.

The "plungers," as they are called, participated in the third annual Valentine Plunge on Saturday afternoon to benefit the Joan Dancy and PALS Foundation and staytoughfightHARD Foundation.

The organizations raise money for ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, an illness that affects nerve cells in both the spinal cord and brain, leading to muscle paralysis.

Participants were asked to raise a minimum of $100 through pledges and donations. The 2008 Valentine Plunge raised $117,000, which directly benefits local patients and families in Monmouth and Ocean Counties for equipment and medical expenses. The 2009 plunge is expected to raise even more than last year's, said Kathy Valentino, social worker for Joan Dancy and PALS.

"I guess the third time is a charm. There are no waves, and the water is ice cold, but it feels great when you know you're doing it for the right cause," said Sean Magovern, president and executive director of Joan Dancy and PALS and the mastermind behind Team Renewal.

In what easily could be mistaken for a Halloween party on the beach, some participants dressed in costumes ranging from superheroes and Santa Claus to mice and Cupid himself.

Brothers Matt, Dan and Dave Jordan, all of Point Pleasant, dressed as Vikings for the event because they are "warriors fighting for the cure." Dave said that his wife's mother died from ALS, and the couple wanted to help support the cause.

Rob and Kim Bongiorno of Avon renewed their vows before taking the plunge. Wearing leggings, his tuxedo shirt and Valentine's Day boxers, Rob said the outpouring of support from the community "is tremendous."

"We're doing it for Sean (Magovern) and ALS. It's a great cause," Rob said.

Magovern's father, Terry, founded Joan Dancy and PALS in 2006 after his then-fiancee, Joan Dancy, died of ALS. Terry unexpectedly died in July 2007, leaving the foundation in the hands of his son.

"The interesting thing is that people are giving from the goodness of their hearts," said Jim O'Toole of the Joan Dancy and PALS Foundation. "It's all love. It's all out of their hearts."

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