By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Although things look different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Illinois aims to continue to raise money for a good cause.
Typically, people across the state would jump into fringed lake or pond temperatures, but this year is different due to the ongoing pandemic.
Jim Fitzpatrick, Senior Director for Development for the Law Enforcement Torch run, told WJBC’s Scott Miller although people are plunging at-home, the meaning is still the same.
“Last year, we had to cancel our last four plunges across the state because, on March 13, everything shut down. This year we didn’t want to cancel; we wanted to get away from that word. So, we’re plunging at home. People are doing it in a variety of ways, hopefully safe; we encourage safe.”
For the past 20-years, plungers have annually raised $2 million for 23,000 Special Olympic athletes across the state.
“This year, we’re hoping to kind of come in under that a little bit. We’re doing well right now, (with) a little over $700,000 raised across Illinois, and we’re happy with that. People are getting creative.”
The campaign runs until March 14.
WATCH: Radio Bloomington’s Buck Stevens get’s soaked by a local fire department to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.
There is still time to donate and make @B104Buck do a second #PolarPlunge to benefit Special Olympics Illinois (@SO_Illinois)… https://t.co/BvxsAilSKH
— B104 (@WBWN) March 2, 2021
You can donate to Radio Bloomington’s Polar Plunge team here:
https://www.wjbc.com/2021/01/13/plunge-at-home-for-special-olympics-illinois/
Blake Haas can be reached at Blake.Haas@Cumulus.com.
