A pair of polar "sharks" follow an unsuspecting "victim" into the frigid water of Lake Mendota during last year's Polar Plunge for Special Olympics. (Reporter photo by Jennifer Sommer)

MENDOTA – How cold will it be for this year’s Polar Plunge at Lake Mendota? Regardless of the temperature, the brave participants taking part in this benefit for Special Olympics of Illinois will jump in the lake on Saturday, Feb. 24.

Check-in for the second annual plunge at Lake Mendota will begin at 11 a.m. inside the Mendota Civic Center. Plunges will start at noon. Participants are encouraged to add to the fun by dressing in costume and they are also welcome to form teams. A team must consist of at least five plungers. Banners and signs are also welcome.

All Polar Plunge participants are required to collect a minimum of $100 in donations. This includes members of a team who must each raise the minimum of $100 in donations; all team members’ individual fundraising totals will then be merged to form a combined team total. Statewide, teams are placed into divisions based on size and are awarded prizes for the most money raised.

Addison Lee Gott, the 2018 Polar Plunge Ambassador for the Mendota Polar Plunge, has been extremely involved with Special Olympics Illinois. He has received a multitude of medals for his years of active participation and is a great supporter of the Polar Plunge, encouraging everyone to participate despite the cold. Golt first participated in the Polar Plunge last year and he has been hooked ever since.

All plungers will receive a Polar Plunge hooded sweatshirt in cardinal red. Plungers will also receive an entry into the grand prize drawing. For every $500 and $1,000 a plunger raises, they will get an entry into the grand prize drawing.

The other incentive prizes include: $250 – Exclusive Special Olympics Illinois John’s Crazy Socks, $500 – messenger bag and $1,000 – soft shell jacket.

Plungers may register for the Plunge at www.plungeillinois.com or by contacting Allison Nichols at (815) 220-8128. Last-minute Plungers are welcome to register on-site the morning of the event. People wishing to support a plunger with a monetary donation may also do so on the website.

This will be the 19th year of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge. In that time, more than $18.4 million has been raised by more than 66,000 plungers.

About Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fundraising vehicle benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. The annual intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two goals: to raise money and to gain awareness for the athletes who participate in Special Olympics Illinois. The Law Enforcement Torch Run has raised more than $43 million over 31 years while increasing awareness of Special Olympics Illinois athletes and their accomplishments/

About Special Olympics Illinois

Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 17 sports for more than 22,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities and nearly 20,000 young athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support. If you are interested in learning more about Special Olympics Illinois, volunteering or providing financial support to help make Special Olympics programs possible, contact your local Special Olympics agency, call (800) 394-0562 or visit their website at www.soill.org.

For additional information and resources for plungers, visit www.soill.org/polar-plunge/.

Sharks

A pair of polar “sharks” follow an unsuspecting “victim” into the frigid water of Lake Mendota during last year’s Polar Plunge for Special Olympics. (Reporter photo by Jennifer Sommer)