Photos by Shirin McArthur and Mary Alice Murphy
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Children watch the activity
Photo by Shirin McArthurHoliday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Dr. John Bell (in the striped robe)and other members of the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society await his turn to jump in the pool. Photo by Shirin McArthur
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Jill Olson, Holiday Inn Express owner, hugs Evelyn Yates, who never misses a social outing.
Photo by Shirin McArthurhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/1HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/DSC_0727.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Mimi Clark and Ashleigh Garcia show their support for Mimbres Region Arts Council.-?
Photo by Shirin McArthurhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/1HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/DSC_0731.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Christine Rickman, interior designer for the remodeling of the Holiday Inn Express, and her husband, Michael Metcalfe of the WNMU Expressive Arts Department.
Photo by Shirin McArthurhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/1HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/DSC_0756.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Michelle Carrillo, Holiday Inn Express general manager; speaks about the renovation and addition to the motel, as hotel owner Jill Olson and WNMU President Joseph Shepard look on.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
On a windy, chilly day, Carrillo adds ice to the pool just to make sure the temperature is cool enough for a polar plunge.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Yep, those are blocks of ice floating in the pool.
Photo by Mary Alice Murphyhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/2HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/IMG_0340.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Jessie Thetford, representing the Silver City Arts and Cultural District, is the first brave soul to plunge into the pool.
Photo by Shirin McArthurhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/1HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/DSC_0832.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
George Julian Dworin of the Silver City Arts and Cultural District, shows his style.
Photo by Mary Alice Murphyhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/2HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/IMG_0345.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Rebecca of the Silver City Arts and Cultural District edges her way into the shockingly cold water.
Photo by Shirin McArthurhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/1HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/DSC_0846.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Luis Terrazas, who raised in only one day $3000 for the Gila Regional Medical Center Cancer Center and Relay for Life, falls backward into the pool fully dressed, in suit and tie.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Luis Terrazas goes to rescue his brave daughter, Allison, who edged her way into the pool.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Martyn Pearson, with his son and daughter, Addison and Zeyah, take the plunge for the Tour of the Gila.
Photo by Mary Alice Murphyhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/2HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/IMG_0350.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Craig "Horse" Pfeifer jumped in and stayed in the pool for Kiwanis Club of Silver City.
Photo by Shirin McArthurhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/1HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/DSC_0902.JPG
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Pfeifer swam the length of the pool underwater and came up just before touching the wall.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
WNMU President Joe Shepard jumping for the WNMU Foundation and First American Bank took Paul Leetmae of Lawley Toyota in with him.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Shepard took Leetmae with him. Shepard asked Leetmae to push him, but grabbed him at the last minute and Leetmae went in fully dressed.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Dr. John Bell braces himself for the cold water as he jumped in for the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society.
Photo by Shirin McArthurhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/1HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/DSC_0931.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Erika Christian and Enrique Jimenez jump into to support the WNMU Museum.
Photo by Shirin McArthurhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/1HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/DSC_0949.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Razanna Robinson-Thomas tests the water and grimaces at the temperature.-?
Photo by Mary Alice Murphyhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/2HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/IMG_0360.JPG
Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Razanna Robinson-Thomas plunged in for the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Joby Torres didn't waste any time jumping in for Relay for Life.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Kevin Cook fell in backward for Freeport-McMoRan Cooper & Gold Inc. Freeport will match any employee's donation to the charity of his or her choice.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Mimi Clark and Ashleigh Garcia rasied $1,500 for Mimbres Region Arts Council with A GoFundMe account online.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Clark and Garcia in mid-air. No turning back now.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
William Lloyd did a back flip into the pool for Silver City MainStreet Project's Silco Theater.
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Holiday Inn Express Polar Plunge for charity
Heidi Ogas did a colorful belly flop for the High Desert Humane Society.
Photo by Shirin McArthurhttp://www.grantcountybeat.com/images/2015newsitems/FrontPageNews/2HIE_PolarPlunge_2015/DSC_1045.JPG
The Holiday Inn Express, owned by Jill Olson, decided a great way to celebrate its grand re-opening was by inviting non-profits to take a plunge into the new pool. The sun peeked in and out on a breezy afternoon in the 50s. Not exactly balmy, and when Michelle Carrillo added ice blocks and several others added bags of ice cubes, the water cooled a fair bit for the Polar Plunge.
At least 12 brave souls and ensembles took the plunge raising money for their pet charities. At the time of the event, close to $5,000 had been raised, and some had not yet gathered in their pledges.