A Year Long Dip in the Ocean

On September 1, 2014 Doug Maday took a dip in the Atlantic Ocean off of Seaside Park.  No big deal, he was certainly not alone on what was Labor Day Monday, the unofficial end of summer at the Jersey Shore.  But for him it was not the end but rather the beginning. 

Maday, who grew up in Seaside Park and now lives in Island Heights, hated the thought of summer coming to an end (clearly my kind of guy). In a quest for an endless summer he vowed to hit the water every day for as long as possible.  He made his own rule that in order for the streak to continue he had to wear only a bathing suit and fully submerge himself in the ocean.

Of course September was not a problem and even into October the water is quite nice.  The 51-year old self-employed used car dealer continued his daily plunges and as fall turned into winter he realized what he was doing was his own unique version of the now-famous Ice Bucket Challenge. He tried contacting the ALS Association but was unsuccessful.

Then in early December he was contacted by the Joan Dancy and PALS Foundation which is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of ALS patients and their families in Monmouth & Ocean Counties.  They wanted Doug to take part in their annual Polar Bear Plunge on Valentine’s Day and he said he would only if his streak was still alive.They also linked his Facebook page to their website and he began soliciting donations for them whenever he could and to date has raised close to $6,000.  For more information on the group visit joandancyandpals.org

Back to the odyssey which clearly had some challenging moments.  There was a bit of frostbite in December and a bout with bronchitis but it didn’t’ stop the “Middle Age Man and the Sea.”  On those brutal winter days Maday would often take his dip by Casino Pier because it produced some shelter but most of the time he goes in by the lifeguard station in Seaside Park.  Another challenge in winter was to get in the water before dark and there were a few occasions in which he was a solitary figure on the beach with only the light of the moon to guide him.

As the streak and his quest continued he’s been accompanied by friends, followers and family who are kept up to date on his daily Facebook postings.  Yesterday was my turn to wade into the water with Doug and we did so off of North Avenue with water temps in the mid 70s, about 40 degrees warmer than winter.  Day 357 is in the books and next Monday Doug Maday will finish a year-long challenge filled with memories to last a lifetime.  His endless summer is actually about to end!