Red Deer Polar Plunge supports Special Olympics
More than a dozen Central Alberta residents jumped into a tank filled with water in freezing temperatures to support Special Olympics Alberta.
The annual Polar Plunge of the Law Enforcement Torch Run returned Saturday for the first time since 2019 as an in-person event at the Bower-Kin Community Center.
Funds raised from the Polar Plunge, which spans six events across Alberta, will benefit the more than 2,500 athletes at Special Olympics Alberta.
The 16 divers at the Red Deer Event helped raise more than $6,000. The Alberta target was $150,000, which was successfully met.
“This is a great event. We haven’t done that in three years,” said Jerry Tennant, chairman of Special Olympics Red Deer.
“We’ve been doing it virtually for the last two years – it’s had moderate success, but nothing quite like an in-person experience of seeing people fall into the big water tank.”
Tennant noted that the event “goes a long way” in helping Special Olympics Red Deer deliver their programs.
“The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a great group of people from all law enforcement agencies. They’re doing this as well as some other fundraisers for us,” Tennant said.
“The money goes to programs for our 300 athletes and 50 coaches involved in the 13 sports that we practice year-round. It’s a big fundraiser for us.”
Special Olympics is “very important” to the athletes, Tennant added.
“When we had to close for a year and a half because of COVID, it was really tough for a lot of them,” he said.
“It’s her sporting life, it’s her social life. It was nice to be able to fully return to our program this year.”
Korey Cleland, co-chair of the Law Enforcement Torch Run central region, disguised himself as Fred Flintstone as he dove into the water tank. He twice jumped into the water alongside Jason, a Special Olympics athlete dressed as Barney Rubble.
“His mom texted me a while back saying that I inspired him to do the (Polar) Plunge for the first time. Jason raised over $675 for this alone,” Cleland said.
“It’s intimidating when you come onto the platform knowing the cold shock is coming. You jump in and the first shock hits you. But when you come out you feel good, you feel refreshed. I love doing it every year.”
Cleland said Special Olympics is a great organization to support.
“I was born and raised in Red Deer and I just want to give something back,” he said.
“A lot of these athletes look up to us. But really, we look up to them. I do this to give back and see the smiles on their faces.”
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