For the first time ever, Sidney Law Enforcement, along with other interested individuals and businesses, will participate in the Polar Plunge, a national fundraising event that supports the Special Olympics. The Polar Plunge involves a dip into icy water in the great outdoors. People with a screwy sense of fun, or else who have a deep commitment to the Special Olympics program, obtain pledges from the public and then voluntarily jump into a tank of frigid water sitting outside in a parking lot in order to collect the pledge money. The Polar Plunge will kick off the Christmas Stroll, and is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25 in the parking lot south of the Sidney Fire Hall.
“This is the first year we’ve done this,” says Bob Burnison, Sidney Police Department. “This is a fund raiser for the Special Olympics, a program endorsed by law enforcement and that is our No. 1 fundraising program. Seventy per cent of all proceeds stay in Richland County and the remaining 30% goes to the state Special Olympics. All money helps train athletes and to send them to competitions.”
He adds, “”The Polar Plunge is a national event. Some places have lakes and use them for the plunge, but since we don’t have a lake, we’ll use a 5x12 tank filled with water. We also are considering selling ice at the event so spectators can add the ice to the water to make it even colder for the participants.”
Burnison invites people to participate as plungers in this event, as he believes the money goes to an excellent cause. “Anyone can participate in the Plunge,” he says. “So far we have people from law enforcement around the area, we have participants from education, and we have one member of the bar association, and we invite anyone else who is interested to participate in this event.”
Participants must pre-register with Burnison or Gabe Zeiler, and then obtain pledges from the community prior to the Plunge.
“Participants must preregister by calling the Sidney Police Department at 433-2210 and ask for either me, Bob Burnison, or Gabe Zeiler,” Burnison remarks. “We want people to join us to jump into the water. It may not sound like fun, but it will be, and it will help raise money for an excellent cause. Special Olympics mean a lot to the athletes. It is uplifting to see these athletes participate in the games.”
He concludes, “Come watch crazy people jump into cold water. This event supports a very good cause, so we hope to have a lot of participants who have raised pledges, and we hope to have spectators come watch the fun.”
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