The March wind blew up, the sun stayed behind the afternoon clouds, and the temperature went down, but that didn't stop 18 to 20 stouthearted, young and young-at-heart people from waiting at a starting line drawn in the sand. A blast from an air horn set them off, and down the beach they charged, full-tilt, into the icy Maine ocean. They ran in as far as they could stand it and then they turned and ran twice as fast back up onto the sand and into the folds of the thick towels their supporters held out for them.

The 18th annual Leprechaun Leap was held on Tuesday, March 21, at Hendricks Head beach in Southport. The Leap helps fund the special education events for Special Olympics in the Boothbay region. The event started about 18 years ago as the brainchild of two sisters, Julia and Amy Irish, who told event organizer Tom Witt they would take the plunge if he would donate $100 for Special Olympics. Locales were discussed, and Hendricks Head beach became the site. Originally, the rush into the Atlantic Ocean took place on around Valentine’s Day so it was named the “Passion Plunge.” The event was moved to around St. Patrick's Day and is now known as the “Leprechaun Leap.”

Among the first to arrive for this year’s was Sarah Cusumano and her family, including her 6-year old son, Matthew. He was dressed for the plunge, but undecided as to whether he would participate. His mother said he had made it in up to his shins last year, holding the hand of his grandmother, Roberta Blaney. Blaney, an educational technician at Boothbay Region Elementary School, works with BRES special education teacher, coach and event organizer Toby LeConte. Cusumano said even if her son didn’t make the Leap this year, they were there to support Blaney and the cause. And, there is always next year.

Participants and their families arrived between 3 and 3:15 p.m. Most stayed wrapped up as long as they could. Then, at about 3:30 p.m., give or take a couple of minutes, Witt, the official starter, lined up the swimmers. An air horn sounded and they were off,  relying on nerve and heart to brave waters any sane person would consider cold in August, let alone March.

The Leap usually brings in between $1,000 and $3,000 in donations. Donors can still make a monetary pledge by contacting LeConte at BRES, at 633- 5097.