The Polar Plunge, a national event that supports the Special Olympics, and endorsed by Sidney Law Enforcement along with other interested individuals and businesses, will be part of this year’s Christmas Stroll activities
The Polar Plunge, scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25 in the parking lot at the corner of 2nd Ave. & 3rd St. SE, involves a dip into icy water in the great outdoors. People with a screwy sense of fun, or else who have a deep commitment to the Special Olympics program, obtain pledges from the public and then voluntarily jump into a tank of frigid water sitting outside in a parking lot in order to collect the pledge money.
“This is the first year we’ve done this,” says Bob Burnison with the Sidney Police Department. “This is a fund raiser for the Special Olympics, a program endorsed by law enforcement and that is our No. 1 fundraising program. Seventy per cent of all proceeds stay in Richland County and the remaining 30% go to the state Special Olympics. All money helps train athletes and to send them to competitions.”
He adds, “The Polar Plunge is a national event. Some places have lakes and use them for the plunge, but since we don’t have a lake, we’ll use a 5x12 tank filled with water. We also are considering selling ice at the event so spectators can add the ice to the water to make it even colder for the participants.”
Volunteers from law enforcement around the area, participants from education, and one member of the bar association are part of the roster of individuals willing to brave cold water and cold weather in order to raise money for this worthwhile cause.
Participants must pre-register with Burnison or Gabe Zeiler, and then obtain pledges from the community prior to the Plunge. “Participants must preregister by calling the Sidney Police Department at 433-2210 and ask for either me, Bob Burnison, or Gabe Zeiler,” Burnison remarks. “We want people to join us to jump into the water. It may not sound like fun, but it will be, and it will help raise money for an excellent cause. Special Olympics mean a lot to the athletes. It is uplifting to see these athletes participate in the games.”
He concludes, “Come watch crazy people jump into cold water. This event supports a very good cause, so we hope to have a lot of participants who have raised pledges, and we hope to have spectators come watch the fun.”
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