ROCKFORD (WIFR) – Be a fan of brrr-avery! Support Special Olympics athletes by jumping into the waters of Olson Lake at noon on Saturday, March 2. The funds raised from the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge® will benefit Special Olympics Illinois Northwestern/Area 1, which serves athletes with intellectual disabilities in nine counties.
All Polar Plungers are required to collect a minimum of $75 in donations. Check-in begins at 10:30 a.m. The after-Plunge party will be held at Rock Cut State Park. Lunch is free for Plungers and $5 for non-Plungers. Pre-registration events will be from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at Stable’s in Dixon and 3:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at Peak Sports Club in Loves Park. See directions to Plunge location on the Special Olympics Illinois website: www.soill.org.
People are encouraged to come in costume and to form teams. Each team member must also raise a minimum of $75 in donations; all team members’ individual fundraising totals will be merged to form a combined team total. Statewide, teams are placed into divisions based on size and are awarded prizes for the most money raised.
Each Plunger receives an official Polar Plunge sweatshirt. There are also incentive items for raising more money with grand prizes, including a 4-night trip for two adults to Cancun, Mexico with accommodations at Riu Peninsula, courtesy of Apple Vacations. For every $500 a Plunger raises, he/she will get an entry into the drawing for this grand prize.
Plungers can register for the Plunge at www.plungeillinois.com and also create their own fundraising page, or they can register by contacting Debbie Kelly at 815-288-2939.
Last-minute Plungers are welcome to register the morning of the Plunge.
Statewide Presenting Polar Plunge Sponsor: GEICO
Rockford Plunge sponsors: Comcast SportsNet Chicago, WIFR-TV, Maverick Radio (Bob, B103, WNTA), Register Star, PEAK Sports Club, Rockford Park District and Alpine Kiwanis
The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fund-raising vehicle benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. This intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two goals: to raise money and increase public awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics. Each year, more than 3,000 officers in Illinois run more than 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and deliver it to the State Summer Games in Normal in June. Special Olympics Illinois is a year-round program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics programs are now in more than 170 countries with 4 million athletes.
WIFR-TV is a Rockford Plunge sponsor. You can donate to Andy and Aaron's Polar Plunge fund by clicking here.
