Country School plunges for a cause

Monday, 18 January 2010 12:39

On a frigid New Year’s Day, a record 28 people jumped into the 39 degree waters of Long Island Sound to raise money for the Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. EB is a rare condition which causes fragile skin that has to be bandaged every day in order to protect it from further breakdowns.

At New Canaan Country School, students and teachers participated in the fund-raiser, raising nearly $6,000 for the EB Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and honoring a student who lives with the condition.

Fifth grader Shane DiGiovanna said that when someone has EB their hands web up and they have to get several painful surgeries.

“Getting bandaged every day hurts really, really badly, so I’d like there to be a cure,” he said.

The fund-raiser initially started out as a dare amongst middle aged, out of shape guys, and evolved into a new way to help EB kids, according to Shane’s father, Chuck DiGiovanna of Southport.

“The cold water hurts for a few seconds and then you are out,” he said. “EB hurts all the time.” This is the 10th anniversary of the ‘Farcical Aquatic Ceremony’ held at Ye Olde Yacht Yard in Southport.

For more information about Epidermolysis Bullosa, or to make a donation for the (EB) Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, call Patsy DiGiovanna 203-292-6024 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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