Organizers aim to raise $75,000 for Special Olympics athletes
Ashland.news staff reports
With air temperatures expected to hover in the 30s and 40s on Saturday morning, about 500 people will brave the chilly, unheated waters of the Rogue Valley Country Club in Medford for the annual Southern Oregon Polar Plunge, all in the name of Special Olympics.
The 16th annual Polar Plunge event will take place, snow, rain, or shine, and aims to pull in $75,000. Fundraising had already exceeded $61,000 as of Wednesday. Each participant taking the plunge has committed to raising at least $50 to take the Polar Plunge but many have raised much more to support local athletes. The air temperature is anticipated to only reach mid 40s, with an early morning low around 30 degrees.
“I’m so grateful and a bit giddy with excitement that we just might hit our ambitious goal of $75,000 on Saturday,” said Kim Andresen, Southern Oregon Polar Plunge event manager, in a news release. “We had snow last year, and the weather forecast looks frigid with a low of 28 degrees that morning. I’m plunging and this is all for our amazing athletes. I’m honored to just be a part of it and help it be successful,” said Andresen. All proceeds from the event support Special Olympics athletes year-round sports training, uniforms, equipment, and provides support and access to wellness and nutrition programs.
Lithia & Driveway, the statewide sponsor for Special Olympics Oregon’s six polar plunges across the state, is pulling in big cash for the organization with dozens of dealerships participating.
“Here in Southern Oregon, we have nine dealerships from Klamath Falls to Grants Pass participating in this important fundraiser and plunging too,” said Courtney Montilepre, a local Lithia & Driveway recruiter. “I’ve been ‘on tour’ with some of our athletes from Jackson County visiting local Lithia dealerships and we are all really excited about fundraising, plunging, getting to know our local athletes. Athletes Eric Thompson, Kelsey Glazier, and Nick Hiti shared their stories of training, competition, triumphs, and heartbreaking challenges. Showing up Saturday and donating will have a deep, and lasting impact on the athletes.”
Registration for the Southern Oregon Polar Plunge opens at 9 a.m. and teams hit the water at 11 a.m. with a costume contest just prior to the event.
Sponsors will also provide hot soup and beverages to warm up cold “plungers,” emerging from their wintry dip.
The event is free and open to the public to watch the event, and a $50 minimum to partake in the plunge. Plunge participants can sign up in advance online or walk on the day of the event and take the dip.
Local event sponsors include: Lithia & Driveway, In-N-Out Burger, Rogue Credit Union, Murphy Creek Wellness, Amy’s Kitchen, Great Harvest Bread, Timber Country Coca-Cola, RAM Offset Printing, Ashland Food Co-Op, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, Harry & David, Dutch Bros and many more.
Teams consisting of local law enforcement, first responders, schools, community organizations, businesses, churches, families, and local athletes from Josephine to Klamath counties will cue up to make a big splash.
Emcees for the event will be NBC/KOBI5 morning news anchor Marcus Veal and meteorologist Bobby Johnston. DJ Scuba Steve from KOOL 103.5FM will provide “splashy” music and the SOU Raider Band will “drumroll” teams into their plunge.
All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Oregon athletes and provides uniforms, sports equipment, and health and wellness programs in addition to year-round sports training for more than 5,000 athletes across the state.
To register or donate to the Southern Oregon Polar Plunge, go to plungeoregon.org. To volunteer, email volunteer@soor.org or contact event manager Kim Andresen at 541-841-6875 or email soplunge@soor.org.
Special Olympics Oregon Special Olympics Oregon serves more than 5,000 participants with intellectual disabilities year-round and statewide through the organization’s life changing sports programs.
Athletes gain self-confidence, social competency, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Learn more about SOOR online at soor.org.
Reach Ashland.news reporter Holly Dillemuth at hollyd@ashland.news.
