The jump is sponsored by the Hudson Valley chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and was expected to bring in $50,000 or $60,000 in donations.
Like a relay, the people dressed as superheroes and their sidekicks gathered money from supporters on the condition that they jump into a freezing lake. Some people at the park took the comic book theme more seriously. A Supergirl and a Wonder Woman walked around the park with people dressed as Disney characters, angels and faceless purple people.
For one local family, the Doyles, the jump was in honor of their 77-year-old matriarch, Laura Doyle. Mike Doyle, of New Paltz, is Laura’s son. Now decked out in a fresh change of clothes — and huddled in a warming tent — he’d jumped for the second year.
“We had family members who came from as far away as Boston to jump,” Mike says. “Between the nine of us alone, we raised $6,000.”
For families dealing with Alzheimer’s, the change in a loved one can be stark. The incurable neurological disorder erases memories and language. It can actually alter the personality of the people who suffer from it and make them disoriented. Mike Doyle says they’ve been fortunate — Laura’s personality hasn’t changed, but it’s still hard.
“The Alzheimer’s Association has been great,” he says.
Karen Skelton is the woman’s voice behind the loudspeaker at Subzero Heroes. She’s also the event coordinator for the regional Alzheimer’s Association chapter, and she helped set up the dive. While it’s not the biggest fundraiser for the group — that’s autumn’s “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” — it has brought in a nice amount.
“It’s raised, over the years, probably $100,000,” Skelton says. Also the event is growing. Despite the 20-degree temperature, people still packed Berean Park.
Regionally, the Alzheimer’s Association offers a lot of support services to help Alzheimer’s sufferers or their caretakers. Among other valuable aid the group gives, they have a 24-hour hotline, care consultations, educational programs and support groups.
In the U.S., there are 5.4 million people with Alzheimer’s and the disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the country. While it primarily impacts older people — one in eight American seniors have it — it can strike people as early as in their 40s or 50s.
For more about Subzero Heroes or to see more pictures from the event, head to subzeroheroes.wordpress.com. To learn more about the Hudson Valley Alzheimer’s Association, head to www.alz.org/hudsonvalley.
