Polar Plunge: Diving into Community Support
On Feb. 28, volunteers charged into the lake at Thousand Hills State Park to show their support for Missouri’s Special Olympics in the North Area’s 19th Annual Polar Plunge.
Teams of plungers, or “Polar Bears,” as referred to by the Special Olympics team, lined up along the beach at Thousand Hills and waited their turn to be called to the shoreline.
Sean Jacob, executive director of Adair County SB40 and captain of their team for the fundraising event, said he was anxious for the plunge.
“This is our first plunge,” Jacob said. “We’ve been here and supported, but this is the first time we’re actually plunging. [We’re] a little nervous, but I think we’ll be okay once we’re in there.”
While some participants were new to the Polar Plunge, others were experienced in the event and even set goals for themselves.
Stacie Holt with Equity Bank said “I’m excited. I came last year, [but] I didn’t go completely under. This year I’m going completely under.”
The event raised over $18,000 thanks to efforts made by plungers and their teams, who were each tasked with collecting $75 in donations by the day of the plunge. The Moberly CERT team of plungers earned the first place award for highest fundraising, with $4745 in donations. Kayla Purnell, a member of the Moberly CERT team, won the top individual award by reaching out to friends and family for contributions. Purnell has participated in the Polar Plunge for eight years.
“[It’s] been something that’s been near and dear to me for a long time, so I just keep doing it every year,” Purnell said.
Many share Purnell’s sentimentality of the plunge. Melody Prawitz, the Development Director for the North Area, has worked for Missouri’s Special Olympics for 29 years. “The best part of the Polar Plunge is to see all the support that complete strangers show our athletes and the amount of money that they raise for our program,” said Prawitz.
In her position as Development Director for the North Area, Prawitz is responsible for operating three fundraisers in the 27 counties she serves.
“We do not charge our athletes to participate in our program, so therefore it’s my responsibility to make sure the funds are there so the athletes can participate in our program,” Prawitz said. The money raised stays local where the Polar Plunge events are held to fund uniforms, facilities, and transportation to state events.
Throughout the State of Missouri, the Special Olympics holds thirteen Polar Plunges. Kirksville is especially important to the Special Olympics Polar Plunge as the largest fundraiser for the North Area. Originally started by a group of law enforcement officers that wanted to bring the plunge to Kirksville, Thousand Hills State Park has been home to Polar Plunges for years, and will continue to host them in the future.
