The coast of Olson lake was flooded with good samaritans today as they plunged into the cold waters for Special Olympics. 23 News reporter Chris Norman was at the chilly event and has more on how it's expected to help light up the lives of many stateline families.
"It was really cold, but fun."
They say they're freezin' for a reason. Hundreds stripped down and splashed into Olson lake at Rock Cut state park for the law enforcement torch run and Polar Plunge. It's all to support Special Olympics. An event athlete Barry Tillema looks forward to every year.
Tillema has an intellctual disability but that doesn't stop him from competing in several Special Olympics events such as bocce ball, bowling, and golf.
"I think that if i didnt have Special Olympics that's like a big part of my life, so i dont know what else i'd really do"
It's also something seargent Pat Hoey cares a lot about. He and fellow officers hope this year's plunge will help raise 85-thousand dollars for the athletes.
"That money helps all the althletes and all their families attend all the events and all the games free of charge."
Though there was still some ice out on the water, most people say they were happy to dive in.
In Rockford, Chris Norman, 23 news right now.

Wifr-tv did its part too. In addition to making the plunge, 23 news this morning's Andy Gannon and Aaron Wilson raised nearly nine-thousand dollars for Special Olympics, they did that by raising funds on our webchannel and selling t-shirts with the new 23 news logo.