February 11: Polar Plunge Special Olympics Fundraiser @ Broughton Beach | FREE, 1,000 Participants
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From press release:
2012 Polar Plunge
Saturday, February 11
11 a.m. | FREE | All Ages
@ Broughton Beach in NE Portland
More Info: www.plungeoregon.com/
On the morning of February 11, fully-clothed Portland Police Lieutenant Jeff Kaer will run across the sand at NE Portland’s Broughton Beach, and into Columbia River, yelling at the top of his lungs as he hits the icy water. More than a thousand of his colleagues, friends and neighbors are expected to join him in his chilly plunge, with an even greater number of warmly dressed spectators watching from a safe distance.
It’s called the Polar Plunge. And even though it sounds a little crazy, this annual event will raise much-needed support for Special Olympics Oregon. Between February 3 and 18, five cities will host similar plunges with nearly 4,000 participants total. “Polar Plungers” in Eugene and Corvallis will sprint into the Willamette River. In Medford they’ll jump into an unheated outdoor pool. And in Bend, they’ll brave the icy Deschutes River. Each plunger will have raised a minimum of $50 in pledges from friends and family for the privilege of running into the water. Most won't stop at $50, and an elite cadre of Super Plungers, who’ve raised at least $3,000 each, will enter the water in Portland once an hour for a twenty four hour period.
Polar Plungers can participate as individuals or recruit a group of friends to run into the water as a team. Many businesses have used this as a team-building exercise and community service project for their employees.
People wishing to take the plunge for Special Olympics Oregon can register online at PlungeOregon.com. Those who don’t want to go into the cold water themselves can support another plunger or team, or they can take the ¬Å“Too Chicken to Plunge¬Â option. Details are on the website.
