Record 900 supporters dash into Miller Park Lake for Special Olympics Polar Plunge

Pantagraph - 2/25/2024

Feb. 24—×

BLOOMINGTON — A record 900 participants plunged into Miller Park Lake in Bloomington on Saturday for Special Olympics Illinois.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge first started in 1999 in Lake Bluff, with 150 participants raising $34,000. This year, the Bloomington event had already raised $144,000 from 7,000 registered funders as of Saturday morning, with a total goal of $169,000.

The statewide goal is $2.3 million, with a month left in the plunging season. Last year, the event raised $2 million statewide.

Michelle Mayer, senior director of marketing and communications for Special Olympics Illinois, said 24 plunges were taking place across the state Saturday in support of Special Olympic Illinois athletes.

"We usually get a few people that come in and just sign up that day. But (900), that's really exciting. We're pretty confident that we're gonna get to that (goal), just based on what we usually bring in that day," Mayer said of the Bloomington event.

She continued, "So, yeah, it's a really cool community event. It brings a lot of people all together. And it's a beautiful backdrop."

She added that the event typically brings crowds of a few hundred people supporting their family members and friends in the plunge.

The first wave of plungers started at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and the second wave began at noon.

"I know a lot of people think it's just one event a year, but we're really providing year-long opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities," Mayer said. "Our mission is to give them opportunities in sports competition year-round, professional and leadership development, personal development and then also health education."

Kim Nelson-Brown, head volleyball coach and associate athletic director at Illinois Wesleyan University, said the athletics department has participated in the Polar Plunge since around 2012. At that time, a softball player had a sister with disabilities and felt inspired to organize the university sports teams to participate in the Polar Plunge.

Since then, it's become an annual occurrence, Nelson-Brown said. They started with around 10 to 15 students, but have had as many as 200 students participate in the past. The whole volleyball team, including 20 students and coaches, took the plunge on Saturday, with the exception of two seniors with injuries who couldn't get in the water.

Nelson-Brown credited the softball team with raising the money, a total of nearly $14,000, but the team was unable to plunge due to having a game at the same time.

"Even some of our teams (who) are in season will participate if they can," Nelson-Brown said. "And so it's just about putting it out on social media, encouraging people to participate. And us having, I think, 78 or 79 members plunge today, was incredible."

She continued, "I have a neighbor who adopted two children with Down syndrome, and so I've watched the impact Special Olympics has made in their lives. And it's just an incredible organization that provides opportunities for so many men and women who would not have an opportunity otherwise, so it's a pleasure to be a part of it."

Special Olympics Illinois President and CEO Peter Beale-DelVecchio took over the position in October and was a first-time plunger on Saturday.

Beale-DelVecchio shared Mayer's confidence that the organization would beat its fundraising goal.

"It's all about helping people reach their full potential and respecting the dignity of every person. And it's about inclusion," Beale-DelVecchio said. "Today brings awareness and just highlights what we do day in and day out. Getting to see 900 people come out, it's amazing to be a part of it. You know, I'm not a cold water fan, so taking on those personal challenges to get in and be part of today — that's really exciting."

He added that fundraising is just one way supporters can come together — it can go even further by bringing people together to make the world more inclusive not just for Special Olympic athletes, but for everyone. He said whether you're a plunger, a volunteer or a donor, everyone involved is helping the Special Olympics' daily cause.

"Everything Special Olympics is about is empowering our athletes and people who intersect with them day in day out to really build inclusive communities," Beale-DelVecchio said.

A post-plunge party took place at Little Beaver Brewery in Bloomington.

Contact Olivia Jacobs at 309-820-3352. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @olivia___jacobs

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