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s e r v i n g tay l or , ol d f or g e , moosic & surrounding areas triborobanner.com | January 5, 2017
Old Forge boys basketball team defeated Mountain View |PaGE 3
Riverside senior won first place in the Skills USA competition |PaGE 4
Making pierogies at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church. |PaGE 7
Chilly Charity
A polar plunge will raise funds for cancer patients By Josh McAuliffe
sPeciAl To The TRiBoRo BANNeR Shannon McDonough lost her battle with colon cancer in 2009 at the young age of 23, leaving a gaping hole in the hearts of her close circle of friends. “She was one of a kind. I never met a friend like her,” said longtime friend Stephanie Schofield. “She was always there when anyone needed her. She was so selfless.” That selfless spirit lives on, seven years after McDonough’s death, via the Splashin’ with Compassion polar plunge benefit at Montage Mountain. The fourth annual event will take place Saturday, Jan. 28, with registration from 9 to 11 a.m. and the plunge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $35 for participants, who can pre-register online at friendsofshannonmcdonough.com. Those who sign up by Jan. 20 will receive a free hooded sweatshirt. Admission is free for those who just want to attend the event. All proceeds from the event benefit Friends of Shannon McDonough, a nonprofit that distributes funds to young cancer patients throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. Splashin’ with Compassion started in 2014 when close friends of McDonough, among them Schofield and her brother Pat, decided to honor the Scranton resident’s
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memory with a fundraising event that could be done in addition to the group’s annual St. Patrick’s Parade T-shirt sale. McDonough’s uncle “came to us with this crazy polar plunge idea,” said Schofield with a laugh. “So, we went ahead and ran with it,” she said. What they quickly realized is that polar plunges have become hugely popular events in recent years. The inaugural Splashin’ with Compassion raised about $10,000. Last year’s polar plunge raised a little more than $10,000. From there, Schofield said, the organization distributed $1,000 each to 10 local cancer patients between the ages of 16 and 25. Many of them travel out of town for treatments, so the money comes in handy for things like hotel and transportation costs. “One thing we pride ourselves on is we don’t work with any middlemen,” said Schofield, noting the group also uses part of the money to donate 30 raffle baskets a year to other cancer benefits. Montage excavated a pool specifically for the event, and participants will be happy to know that there’s a hot tub nearby for them to warm up in following their plunge. All participants must sign waivers, and kids ages 12 to 18 must have parental consent to participate. Local EMS crews will be on hand in case of any emergencies. Gift cards will be rigged at the bottom of the pool for plungers to grab, and participants who don costumes will be eligible for additional prizes.
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Participants take the plunge at last year’s event.
In addition, the festivities will include a DJ, Ski Up bar, basket raffles, a “sleigh of cheer,” a kids’ mini plunge and vendor tables manned by local health organizations. Local businesses interested in donating gift cards and baskets or pledging a sponsorship can contact Friends of Shannon McDonough by Jan. 20 at friendsofsm@gmail.com or 570-903- 9079. Schofield said attendees can expect a frigid yet fun-filled day. “It’s quite a day. We get so much help from so many people,” she said. “We’re very thankful and grateful for the com-
munity response we’ve gotten. People have been so great.” if you go: What: Fourth annual Friends of Shannon McDonough Splashin’ with Compassion polar plunge benefit. Where: Montage Mountain, Moosic. When: Saturday, Jan. 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. details: Admission is $35 for plungers and free for those simply attending. To pre-register, or for more information, visit friendsofshannonmcdonough.com or the event’s Facebook page.