Plungers to Jump in River for Special Olympics

The fourth-annual Eastern Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28 at , 3401 State Road.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. and the event is slated for a 1 p.m. “splash” time during which former NFL standout, Dan Klecko, a defensive tackle who has been a part of three Super Bowl Champion teams and who is currently a co-hosts on 94.1 WIP SportsRadio, will kick things off. The plunge is open to the public and all spectators are welcome free of charge.

The Polar Plunge invites participants of all ages (under 18 requires parent or guardian signature) to take a dip in the “cool” waters of the Delaware River. Plungers can take the plunge on their own with a minimum pledge of $50 or, better yet, join a group of 10 friends and/or colleagues to form a Plunge Team with a $500 pledge goal. All plungers are asked to raise the $50 minimum pledge to receive an official 2012 long sleeved Polar Plunge t-shirt, but are eligible to earn additional prizes as their pledges increase.  Additionally, since jumping into a freezing river is not for everyone, participants can choose to register for the event as a "Too Chicken To Plunge" participant.  Corporate, school and community teams are also welcome to set up a tent and hang a team banner in support of SOPA.

There will be plenty of room for spectators and volunteer opportunities such as helping with set up and event registration.  Additional event activities include a contest for the most creative adult and youth plunge costumes, on-site music provided by 94.1 WIP, and warm refreshments.  Awards will be presented to teams and individuals who raise the most money.

Polar Plunges have raised millions of dollars across the country for Special Olympics. The events are co-hosted by state chapters of Special Olympics along with their Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) officials. The Special Olympics Pennsylvania Polar Plunge, under the leadership of Chief Dave Mettin of the Pennridge Regional Police Department, Chief David Duffy of the Upper Gwynedd Police Department and Chief Joseph Kozeniewski of the Franconia Township Police Department, benefits nearly 20,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who experience life-changing benefits as a result of their participation in the organization’s year-round training and competition programs -- all at no cost to themselves or their families. Last year’s Eastern Polar Bear Plunge raised nearly $150,000 and saw close to 1,000 people “Freezin’ for a Reason”.

The 2012 Polar Plunge event sponsors include Aerotek, 94.1 WIP Sports Radio, The Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin Robbins Community Foundation, NBC Sports, Harmelin Media, Huntington Bank, Sports Authority, the law firm of Kessler, Topaz, Meltzer and Check, and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Every minute our plungers spend in the cold will warm the hearts of thousands of SOPA athletes, so we ask that participants Sign Up, Jump In and Feel Warm. Participants can raise funds online by creating their own fundraising page to garner support from their friends, family and co-workers. To register online or for more information, please visit www.plungepa.org, www.specialolympicspa.org, or call Demika Poole at 610-630-9450, ext. 226.