The Special Olympics allows the intellectually disadvantaged to realize their athletic goals. | specialolympics.org
The Special Olympics allows the intellectually disadvantaged to realize their athletic goals. | specialolympics.org
With about 9,000 participating athletes, Wisconsin Special Olympics depends on fundraisers to help the mentally challenged achieve the greatest degree of sports success that they can.
A big part of the organization’s ongoing drive to raise $250,000 is the Polar Plunge. As its name implies, the event calls upon participants to take a freezing dip in the name of supporting a good cause, according to the group’s website.
"We (had) about 650 crazy souls jumping in the freezing Lake Monona today,” Lucas Molloy, director of development for Special Olympics programs in Wisconsin, told WKOW.
The Polar Plunge, the first of which was in 1999, isn’t restricted to the event that just passed. Wisconsin has several more dips scheduled over the next couple of weeks. Those are occurring in Green Bay, Milwaukee, Eau Claire and La Crosse, WKOW reported.
Special Olympians must be over the age of 8, and there is no upper age limit, the Special Olympics website states. Nearly one in three of the athletes are 22 or older.
“Through sports training and competitions, Special Olympics helps people with ID find joy, acceptance and success,” the website says. “As their lives open up, athletes gain the confidence that comes with achievement.”
People who want to support the cause without entering a near-freezing body of water can donate by visiting specialolympics.org.
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