Taking the plunge for Special Olympics Oklahoma

Feb. 25--Batgirl, a teddy bear and a Minion were among the costumes worn by law enforcement who braved chilly and rainy weather Saturday morning to raise money for Special Olympics Oklahoma.

With temperatures hovering in the mid-30s, officers, students and other people across the metro showed up at White Water Bay to take the Polar Plunge.

"It was a little chilly, but it was for a great cause, so it was worth it," said Trent Marsh, of Edmond, who jumped into the frigid water as part of Vallie Dunklin's "froze before toes" team, which raised about $6,000 Saturday.

Frozen toes were exactly what team member and six-time plunger Ketha Welborn, 11, said she had as she sat shivering on a picnic table after coming out of the pool.

"It was freezing. My toes are dead. My toes are going to fall off, I feel it," she said.

Dunklin, who has also participated at the Oklahoma City Polar Plunge for six years, said she couldn't have accomplished the fundraising without some "loyal and crazy friends."

The event was one of 16 planned plunges across the state, with the Oklahoma City plunge raising more than $35,000, said Special Olympics Oklahoma Development Director Jennifer Lightle. Statewide, she said she expected more than $250,000 would be raised this year from the plunges.

All money raised is donated to the organization, helping to pay for more than 11,500 Oklahoma athletes to compete throughout the year.

Jim Fisher, director of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Torch Run, said law enforcement officers always play a big role in supporting the Special Olympics, adding that his organization is the largest grassroots fundraiser and that more than $400,000 was raised last year by agencies across the state.

Fisher, who said he has a special needs son, said the fundraising has been an important part of his life for nearly two decades.

"It means everything in the world to me. I've been doing this for 17 years, not the plunge, but Special Olympics, raising money for Special Olympics," he said.

An 11-year plunger who has spent 18 years raising funds for Special Olympics, McClain County sheriff's deputy Scott Gibbons and his team, the Plunging Po-Po's, raised more than their goal of $6,500 for the event.

On Saturday, Gibbons, along with five other McClain County deputies, donned polar bear hats and made the plunge. Another member of his team took things a bit further by wearing a pink tutu and pink mohawk, which Gibbons said netted the team a $1,000 donation.

Gibbons said the annual event has the greatest impact among all his fundraising throughout the year.

"This enables us to raise more money in this one event than we probably do all year collectively, as a department and individuals," he said.

For more information about Special Olympics Oklahoma and how to donate, go online to www.sook.org.

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