The weather may have been unseasonably warm in Athens lately, but some will still freeze this Saturday when they jump into the icy waters of Lake Snowden.
The Ohio University Polar Bear Plunge, co-sponsored by the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity and the OU Police Department, will encourage students to jump into freezing cold water at a nearby lake to raise money for Special Olympics Ohio. A pre-plunge award ceremony will begin at 11 a.m., and participants will begin jumping at around 1 p.m.
There will be nine Polar Bear Plunge events sponsored across Ohio; OU’s will be the fourth, said Paige Ludwig, marketing and development director of Special Olympics Ohio.
“It helps us provide sports training and competitive opportunities for 23,000 children and adults with disabilities,” Ludwig said.
Although Special Olympics Ohio has hosted the fundraiser for 16 years, it has only been at OU for five, she said.
It has grown in recent years, and event organizers are hoping to see a turnout of about 260 people this year, said Cody Pyle, a junior studying communication who helped organize the event.
“We’ve had it at Strouds Run in the past, but since the event has grown a lot in the past few years, we decided to move it to Lake Snowden,” Pyle said.
Anyone can register to participate in the fundraiser; however, organizers ask that participants raise a minimum of $50 each. People can register online, at Buffalo Wild Wings from 6–9 p.m. Friday or at the event Saturday.
“We didn’t really set a specific (fundraising) goal; we just really want to keep the event growing, and last year, we raised $33,000,” Pyle said. “So, if we break $33,000 this year, we would consider it a success.”
About $20,000 had been raised at press time, according to the event’s website.
Sean Brawley, a sophomore studying outdoor recreation, said that to date he has raised $550 for the event.
“I never really even went into it with a goal … I’m still trying to get money until the last day I can,” Brawley said.
Brawley is participating as part of the ROTC team. He said he received most of his donations from family.
Participants who raise the $50 minimum donation will receive a free T-shirt and a wristband for free wings at an after party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Two OU administrators, Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi and Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith, have plans to participate.
“I think the organizers have been using our participation to generate extra interest,” Lombardi said. “I’ve heard the theme is retro … I told the students most of my clothes would probably be considered retro.”
bv111010@ohiou.edu
