Page 22 - AHATA

A16 LOCAL
Friday 23 March 2018
Polar Plunge Leads to Sunny Aruba Shores

“Aruba gave it a great ALS. Several associated draw more people to the
theme this year,” pro- foundations also took part Plunge, and contributed to
claimed Philip Gormley, a in the fundraiser. the success of the event.”
MAC Angels Board Mem- The ultimate winner of the explains MAC Angels Foun-
ber, who was also a par- Playa Linda week stay is a dation Program Director El-
ticipant and led the plunge Soul Ryeders cyclist, and len L. DiCicco.
this year. part of a cancer support MAC Angels has supported
The lucky winner, who ex- group. She participated over 500 families with ALS
citedly displayed the one- in the plunge with “Team in the tri-state area since
week stay certificate during April”, in memory of April 2010, and actively helps
the post Plunge celebra- Dean, 41, who passed 100 families with ALS. It ser-
tion, is now looking forward away from cancer in De- vices are free and unique
to planning a dream vaca- cember. Also present were to each family.
tion at the Playa Linda, and “PALS” (people with ALS), There are numerous organi-
to spending time under Pauline and Benita, who zations that raise money for
Aruba’s reliably sunny skies. thanked supporters, who treatments and research;
The Plunge was first initi- also included individuals MAC Angels compliments
ated by Ray Kelly, for the who took part in honor of these organizations by
Challenged Athletes Foun- and in memory of loved bridging the gap in services,
dation, and later joined ones lost to ALS. providing direct assistance,
by MAC Angels, under the “Due to the cold time of home care equipment and
guidance of Philip Gorm- year, having Aruba and emotional support to fami-
ley, when his own sister the beach and warmth liesduring their journey with
Claire was diagnosed with and sunshine helped us ALS.q

ORANJESTAD - Rye, NY and event, held at Rye Beach,
Oranjestad, Aruba - Par- NY, during a frigid-feeling
ticipants of a Polar Plunge Sunday, was organized to
in the US Northeast had raise funds for MAC Angels,
thoughts of Aruba to help a non-profit that supports
keep them warm, with families living with ALS (Lou
hopes of winning a week Gehrig’s disease) in the tri-
stay at the Playa Linda state area (NY, NJ, CT).
Beach Resort. The annual