Taking the plunge
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 22, 2017 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Participants run toward the chilly waters of the lake at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Saturday during the first ever Pink Plunge to raise awareness for breat cancer. The group also took a before and after shot wrapped in the world's largest tutu.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Elizabeth Taylor, 9, closes her eyes as she and others run into the lake at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Saturday during the inaugural Pink Plunge to raise awareness for breast cancer. She and her family went all the way under the water after a $22.22 donation dare from her uncle Brian Scoggins who lives in Germany.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
At front, Penelope Taylor and her daughters, Allison, 12, Tiffany, 15, Elizabeth, 9, come up for air after going all the way under the water following a $22.22 donation dare from her brother Brian Scoggins who lives in Germany. Also pictured is Penelope's mother Sandra Scoggins who only went under the water to her neck to avoid getting her hat wet.
Scoping out the right trail for the Pink Plunge event Saturday morning at the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park wasn't too hard -- follow the strategically placed pink tutus from the entrance to the swim lake.
The theme was well represented across the picnic area, with more than 100 creating a sea of pink prepared to bring a splash of color into the Neuse River promptly at 11:22.
Sponsored by the Arts Council of Wayne County, the fundraiser for breast cancer awareness month benefited both the Arts Council and Southeastern Cancer Care.
Mother Nature smiled on the event, Wendy Snow Walker, Arts Council director, said of the unseasonably warm day.
Juliette Ochoa, a lifeguard at the Cliffs during the summer, and Faith Boyette, enlisted by Parks and Recreation, were on tap to handle potential lifeguard duties.
Ochoa did not seem worried about the lake temperature being an issue, estimating it was probably around 60 degrees.
"During the summer it was like 70 to 75 degrees," she said.
Nevertheless, Boyette said there was likely a strategy to the approach, rather than wading in and getting a shock to the system.
"They're just going to run in as quickly as possible," she said.
The effort was modeled after the Hooley Plunge held in Cumberland, Maryland each March, which benefits Special Olympics, Walker said.
The brainstorming began in April for something local that would be fun and community-minded, she said.
As a dancer and an artist, she said she and others got creative, putting together the notion of tutus and pink and the connection so many have to breast cancer and other cancers.
"It all began with a crazy idea and then we ran with the tutu theme," she said.
Josiah King, a gallery assistant with the Arts Council, had no problem donning a pink tutu, he said as he made his way through the crowd taking photos.
He was also willing to be a good sport and the take proverbial plunge.
"I'm going to jump in there so maybe (the tutu) will keep me a little warm," he said with a smile. "It's a fun way to help out, a creative way to help out."
Earlier in the week, the Arts Council had unveiled a visual that played out well along the bank of the river -- a 100-foot-long bright pink tutu, touted (unofficially) as the world's largest tutu.
This is the first year for the event, but hopefully it will continue for many years to come, said Dr. Samer Kasbari of Southeastern Medical Oncology Center, who also works with Southeastern Cancer Care, a non-profit organization that supports cancer patients in eastern North Carolina.
Christy Thompson is a local artist who works with the Arts Council and SMOC. She recalled meeting Peggy Bill 20 years ago, when Bill was battling breast cancer for the second time.
"She decided it was time to do all the things she wanted to do but just hadn't taken the time to do," Thompson said.
The benefits of painting were found to tap into Bill's creative side, surprising both of the women. While Bill succumbed to the disease, Thompson continues to lead the art therapy group at SMOC -- in its 17th year -- and invites cancer patients and caregivers to be part of Soul's Palette every Thursday at 10 a.m.
Survivor Traycee Williams also shared a testimonial about receiving care from SMOC.
"I'm one of the lucky ones," she said. "I'm still having treatment there."
Diagnosed in April 2016, she finished a year of chemo in May and is now taking oral chemotherapy.
In preparation for the Pink Plunge, the long tutu was unfurled and carried by everyone gathered.
Goldsboro city councilman David Ham was enlisted to count them down. On his "go," those in the line dropped the tutu and ran into the lake.
Maybe it was the warmth of the sun -- maybe it was the warm feeling of coming together as a community and supporting others -- but the bulk of the crowd lingered in the water.
Some even exited and were heard to say, "It felt good!"