January 26, 2011
Chill with the UWPD for a good cause at Polar Plunge 2011
Brave souls dash into Puget Sound at Alki Beach for the 2010 Polar Plunge. This years dip is Jan. 29. | Photo by Cham Kao.
Its time once again to consider taking the plunge — the Polar Plunge into the icy waters off Alki Beach, that is. The 2011 Polar Plunge will be held from noon to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29.
The Polar Plunge is a fundraising event where the UW Police Department joins other area law enforcement teams and the public to raise money for the Special Olympics. Ray Wittmier, UWPD lieutenant, said last years event raised $37,000 for the good cause. About $25,000 was raised in 2009.
Another Polar Plunge was held in Kennewick the weekend after the last Seattle event, “and managed to beat us by $1,000,” Wittmier said. “This year our plunge is after theirs, so well have a mark to beat.”
Signup starts at 9 a.m. Each participant — plunger? — must raise a minimum of $50 in donations to take part. You also have to wear shoes and bring your own towel and set of dry replacement clothes. They dont call it “freezin for a reason” for nothing.
If you are, shall we say, courage-challenged, you can still show support by rooting for the icy plungers from the sideline area subtly named The Chicken Coop.
You can sign up online at the UWPDs Facebook page. And you can learn more about the UWPD and its programs on the UWPD website.
The Special Olympics was created in1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver (1921-2009), younger sister of President John F. Kennedy, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. She and the Special Olympics were powerfully supported by her husband, Sargent Shriver, who just died on Jan. 18. The Special Olympics of Washingtons website has a moving YouTube tribute to Eunice Shriver, and the national organizations website has a fine retrospective of Sargent Shrivers lengthy life of service.
