Members of the Student Government Association got a taste of the icy cold waters of Long Island Sound at a recent fundraiser for breast cancer.
Thirty members of Quinnipiac University’s SGA attended the 4th Annual Icy Plunge for the Cure for Breast Cancer on Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Savin Rock Conference Center in West Haven.
Of these 30 students that attended the event, seven were brave enough to plunge into the icy cold waters on a cold January day in Long Island Sound.
The seven members of the SGA that dove were Kat Swift, freshman physician assistant major, Michael Germano, junior political science major, Kristin Vidile, junior biology major, Jason Greenwood, senior psychology major, Anthony Vindigni, sophomore criminal justice and legal studies major, Dennis Kisyk, junior political science major and Meg Vivieros, sophomore physician assistant major.
SGA brought in $500 in donations, bringing the event total to over $28,000.
Every year the SGA completes two community service projects.
The Public Relations Committee, previously headed by Michael Germano and now headed by Kristin Reilly, senior public relations major, along with the Community Service Coordinator, Swift, spearheads the choosing and planning of the community service activities.
“We chose this event because getting out into the community is important to us,” Swift said. “There were about 200 people at the Icy Plunge and it was great for us to see the community that we are a part of here in Connecticut, just as much as it was great for the community to see that we care about making a difference not just in our school but also in our community.”
The SGA not only raised money for this event through sponsoring their jumpers but they also volunteered their time to the event. Members took time from the SGA winter training to take a break and show their support for the Plunge.
“The many survivors and families of survivors of breast cancer who were at the event have overcome such a huge obstacle in their lives, showing us that obstacles may present a hardship, but the support of the community has helped them prevail,” Swift added.
Many of the event coordinators were happy to see such a great turnout of college students caring about their community and caring about a cause. The enthusiasm that the group showed helped to add life to the event.
Greenwood stated the ice plunge was a great experience and something he looks foward to doing again in the future.
“It was the coldest thing I have ever done. If it wasn’t for my feet, I could have stayed in longer, but it was all for a great cause and I would do it over again if I had the opportunity to,” Greenwood said.
Vindigni added true leadership is showing the people around you that you are not afraid to do the things you are asking of them. The icy plunge was anther way the SGA and the people involved roved they were true leaders on this campus.
“The Icy Plunge proved the theory of showing true leadership by doing; its one thing to just throw money to a charity event and it’s another to have an organization support an event through participation,” he said.
Vindigni went on to state he was it was a fun but worthwhile experience.
“It was a fun experience for all involved and although the money raised may only make a scratch on the surface of breast cancer research, it is still a tiny bit closer to an eventual cure.”
