Photojournalism: the communication of news through photographs.

That’s the official definition, at least according to the Google. 

It’s also what happens when my computer gives up the ghost the day before I planned to cover Freeze for the Cure last Saturday. You have a small column, created on my phone and patched together by my editor. 

But the photos spotlight the many people who were involved in a great cause. 

Maybe that’s more important.

Freezing for the cure

That’s when people leap into White Lake, raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter.

The water was ice-cold at 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

The air was 15 degrees.

I left the sad remains of my computer at home, along with That Dog Named Gidget (far too cold out there for the puppy) and headed out.

Danny Bunce, White Lake Fire Company member Brendon Cunningham and Robert Schwartz opened the ice. Not only was Mike Richardson the first to take the plunge, but he leaped into the frigid waters of White Lake repeatedly last Saturday—doing more than his part to raise money.

And he was followed by 37 more.

The local event, held by Subzero Heroes team Strike Out Alz, “was started last year in order to make Sullivan County residents more aware of the annual Subzero Hero event held by the Alzheimer’s Association every year in February in Ulster County,” said organizer Terry Grafmuller, who’s also a member of the team.

Plenty of people—around 100—were on hand to cheer this year at White Lake.

“Five fire companies (Bloomingburg, White Lake, Lake Huntington, Hortonville and Smallwood-Mongaup Valley) entered teams of five jumpers in order to receive turtle points from Sullivan 180,” Terry said. White Lake and Kauneonga Departments also had divers in the water so the swimmers would be safe.

Other people raised money and jumped as well, he added, and Hector’s Bar entered a team. 

Plenty of others got involved. The White Lake Fire Company “cut the ice, prepared the site and provided fire and heat, refreshments and changing trailers,” Terry said. 

The sponsors contributed $5,250, and the individual and team contributions totaled over $1,200.

“I keep saying this is the last time I’m doing it [jumping in],” said Team Hector’s Marcia Fink. “This is my 12th year.”