Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson
Kamren Catucci, 12, of Warwick, comes out of the water at Oakland Beach shortly after noon on New Year's Day. The Seawall Splash, a plunge into January waters, raised money for a new carousel for Oakland Beach.
WARWICK, RI -- Cold and wind did not deter about 20 people from plunging into the water at Oakand Beach at noon today for the fifth annual Seawall Splash to benefit the Oakland Beach Carousel Foundation.
The event was one of several New Year's Day swims to raise money for various causes, including 14th Annual Dip for Multiple Sclerosis in Matunuck, the 37th Annual Penguin Plunge for Special Olympics in Narragansett, and Freezin' for a Reason 7th Annual Penguin Plunge, to benefit the WARM Center, in Westerly.
The Oakland Beach group has been working since 1998 to hand-carve the figures for a new carousel they hope to place on city-owned land near the beach. So far 17 of the 24 animals have been carved.