The 9th Annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics will be held in Buffalo Saturday. Volunteers who have collected donations will take a plunge into the icy water of Buffalo Lake at Sturges Park.
Barrett Chrissis, retired Buffalo Police Department Detective says law enforcement agencies from throughout the state sponsor numerous Polar Plunge events each year…
“It’s sponsored by law enforcement, what a great community collaboration that a non-profit
like Special Olympics Minnesota has with government in the form of law enforcement. In fact, a great number of law enforcement agencies, municipal, county, have made it
their primary sponsorship if you will, like officially through their city council or county board.”
Some 500-thousand dollars has been donated to Special Olympics through the Buffalo Polar Plunge since its inception. This year’s goal is 80-thousand dollars.
Funds raised go to help Special Olympics Minnesota provide year-round training and services to thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state.
Chrissis says despite the frigid swim, taking the Polar Plunge is a great feeling…
“It’s invigorating and when you have the crowd cheering for you and some music blasting, you know, it’s no problem.”
Check-in and registration begins at 11 AM Saturday, with plunging beginning at 12 noon. The public is invited to cheer on the plungers and take part in other special events.
