A plunge superstar found his passion by accident

Christopher Todaro had no expectation of becoming a plunge superstar, but being in the right place at the right time turned a lark into a dedication.

“I was just hanging on the beach with my family, flying kites, when I saw all these people running into the water,” remembers the Rockville Centre native when he first got acquainted with polar plunges in 2012. “My brother and I were like, 'That looks cool …' We decided we were going to try it.”

The event he and his sibling spotted was the annual Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County Polar Plunge, which takes place on the beach at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay. It was too late to get in on that plunge, but the seed was planted and they took part in the 2013 edition.

“I was hooked,” he said with a grin Sunday before jumping into the 40-degree water for the 2018 event on a windy day that put a bite into the 45-degree air.

His family also took part, but this year it was his 9-year-old son Christian and 14-year-old niece, Stephany Donnelly of Upper Brookville.

“It’s their first plunge,” Todaro said, and also explained how he got them ready for the freezing dip ahead: “I didn’t…we figured it was best just to let them find out doing it—I mean, they already know it’s going to be cold.”

When the signal was given, all three sprinted in, took full head-to-toe plunges and then raced back to the beach, where towels were waiting. Still out of breath, Stephany smiled and said it was “amazing,” while Christian agreed, adding, “It was really, really cold.”

SEE PHOTOSPhotos: Long Island polar bear plunges

Todaro said he and his family have raised $28,000 for CP Nassau since their first plunge.

“I don’t have a family member with CP, or have someone in my life with it… but being a part of this has made it very important to me.”

That reason aside, he also loves the plunge because of how it makes him feel.

“It’s life-changing, game-changing…I love it.”