Special Olympics Kansas - Polar Plunge

The Special Olympics is an international year-round program of sports training, education, and athletic competition for more than one million children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Kansas began in 1970 and quickly grew to include more than 100 local programs and teams across the state. Today the Special Olympics Kansas touches the lives of over 5,000 athletes who train and compete year-round in 22 sports. Through this organization, the athletes improve physical fitness, acquire new skills, develop lifelong friendships, and encourage widespread community understanding and acceptance.

One of the fund raising opportunities for the Special Olympics Kansas is the annual Polar Plunge where each February participants visit a local lake in Kansas City to brave the frigid waters after raising money for the cause. The Blue River Group was first introduced and began sponsorship of the Polar Plunge by their friend Ken Zimmerman in 2007. After a successful 2007 event, The Blue River Group decided to take their participation to the next level by having one their employees participate in the Polar Plunge to help raise additional funds for the Special Olympics Kansas in addition to what they as a company were able to provide. On February 2nd of 2008, Tony Watson agreed to don The Blue River Group’s Polar Plunge uniform and brave the frigid waters of Shawnee Mission Park Lake after raising more than $2,000 for the event.

Check out the 2008 event at the link below!

http://www.ksso.org/plunge.html

 

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