Registration open for Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunges to benefit Special Olympics Illinois
Plunges to Take Place Feb. 20- March 22, 2015, across Illinois

[October 31, 2014]  NORMAL - Online registration has opened for one of the coolest events of the winter – the 2015 Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge® to benefit Special Olympics Illinois! Individuals and teams can register for the Plunge on the Special Olympics Illinois website at http://www.plungeillinois.com  or by contacting the Special Olympics Illinois staff listed below.

It’s not every day that people are willing to “go jump in a lake” – particularly in the winter – let alone do so with thousands of other people, including members of the law enforcement community. But that’s exactly what will happen on various weekends in February and March as part of the annual Polar Plunge presented by GEICO.

The Polar Plunge is one of the premier fundraising events for the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics Illinois. In 2014, more than $2.1 million was raised by 7,352 Plungers statewide; in 16 years, $12.3 million has been raised by more than 47,000 Plungers. The event has grown from one location in 1999 to 20 locations across the state (see list below) this year. The Polar Plunge season will kick off with a SUPER Plunge – where participants raise a minimum of $2,500 and plunge into Lake Michigan once an hour every hour for 24 hours – on Feb. 20 & 21 at Northwestern University’s North Beach in Evanston.

Any adventurous soul is invited to join law enforcement officers, as well as media and business and civic leaders from their community by donning bathing suits, costumes or any clothing of choice (just no wet suits!) to jump in a lake. Each plunger must collect a minimum of $75 in donations that will be used to support Special Olympics programs in Illinois.

Plungers are encouraged to form teams to spread the fun. Each team member must raise the minimum of $75 in donations and all team members’ individual fundraising totals will be merged to form a combined team total. Teams are placed into divisions based on size and are awarded prizes for the most money raised.
 

All Plungers will receive gifts, compete for prizes, and enjoy food and camaraderie with other chilly participants. For every $500 a Plunger raises, he/she will get an entry into the drawing for this grand prize.

2015 Logan County Polar Plunge:
Lincoln – noon Saturday, March 21
Private Beach, Lincoln Lakes
Contact: Joanie Keyes, 217-428-9255

[Michele Evans, Special Olympics Illinois]