Taking the plunge for a cause, and to honor a friend

JAN. 1, 2020 — Scituate, Mass. — Several dozen rugby players, friends and family memberstook a chilly plunge at Peggoty Beach today to honor friend’s memory, and to help local college-bound high school athletes.

This 6th Annual Kyle F. Dandrow Polar Plunge, hosted by the South Shore Anchors Rugby Football Club, raised nearly $2,000 for college tuition assistance for local high school rugby players. Participants at this year’s event included the Anchors, the South Shore Sirens women’s rugby team, the Boston Irish Wolfhounds, and numerous friends and family members.

The event honors the memory of Kyle F. Dandrow of Marshfield, who graduated from Boston College High School and Quinnipiac University and played for the Anchors before his passing at a young age in 2014.

Although the event is named for Dandrow, Anchors Recruiting Director Dennis Kineen said the occasion is also a chance to honor all former club members. “As we look forward to celebrating our 21st anniversary this fall there are no greater traditions, or any better way to celebrate Anchor's history, than to continue to honor the memories of Anchors and their families we have lost, including Kyle, Dan Breen (formerly of Quincy, who passed away in 2013), and this year another great Anchor, John Fleming (of Scituate),” said Kineen. “Each of them were men for others. Each of them made you proud to be an Anchor. Each of them deserve to be remembered. We will not cry for them because it is over, we will smile because it happened.”

The scholarships will be available on a merit basis to qualifying members of the South Shore’s many high school rugby programs. The Anchors’ board of directors will determine the awards later this spring.