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West Virginians take a polar plunge for Special Olympics

Times West Virginian - 2/20/2018

Feb. 18--CHEAT LAKE -- Dozens of brave West Virginians dove into the frigid waters of Cheat Lake on Saturday in support of the Special Olympics West Virginia.

A total of 82 participants took the dive into the boat dock area next to Crab Shack Caribba for the 13th annual Polar Plunge. In total, the group raised $20,000, despite attendance being slightly lower than in years past due to a last minute change of venue.

"This is the primary fundraiser for Special Olympics West Virginia," Janet Scarcelli, a volunteer with the organization, said. "We have something going on pretty much all year round."

Special Olympics West Virginia provides year-round training and sports for West Virginians with intellectual disabilities.

The group recently held its winter games at Canaan Valley, and will soon begin a basketball tournament in Morgantown.

A total of five polar plunges for Special Olympics West Virginia are held around the state, with the other four being in Parkersburg, Hurricane, Beckley and Huntington.

"It's fun, it's different," Scarcelli said of why people take the plunge. "How many times do you get to say 'I took a dip in Cheat Lake in the middle of February'? So it's a lot of fun for people who have that adventurous spirit."

Many plungers choose to dress up for their dip, and there is even a costume contest. Spotted at Saturday's plunge were a banana, a duo of male and female Statues of Liberty, a green monster and more.

Winning this year's team costume was Bowles Rice LLP, representatives from which dressed up as characters from Hasbro's Guess Who.

This year's individual winner was Dan Miller as the aquatic ballerina. Miller had an oversized fishing net with him for his plunge, after which he managed to "catch" a fish.

"It was very, very cold. You go numb right away," Miller, who is an aquatic biologist, said.

He began doing the dive three years ago when he served as the president of the Rotory Club of Cheat Lake. This year he raised $1,600 for the organization through the Rotory Club.

Each year, the fish he catches has gotten bigger and bigger.

"(The first year) I went in and caught a very small fish, and of course it was with me in my tutu when I went in the water and it looked like I caught it," Miller said. "I thought I'd make it a final, unbelievable event (this year) and we got a Spiny Cape Shark from North Carolina shipped in just in time."

Email Carter Walker at cwalker@timeswv.com and follow him on Twitter @carterw284.

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(c)2018 Times West Virginian (Fairmont, W. Va.)

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