2008 Woodie Awards
Polar Plunge Saturday at Rose Pond
By: Alex Teska
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: News
Taking a dip through the ice into Rose Pond's frigid waters isn't a normal Saturday activity.
But more than 100 Central Michigan University students and community members plan to jump into the icy water for Special Olympics Michigan's second annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge.
Jill Schumacher, director of development and events for Special Olympics, said this the event has taken place at various locations throughout the state for 11 years.
"People love coming out to this event," she said. "Not only is this a wonderful cause, but this is an original and fun event. It is pretty funny to see big, tough police officers take the plunge in a ballerina costume, but they do it for laughs and to raise awareness."
Schumacher said the tradition of wearing a costume has been around as long as the plunge.
"Probably the craziest costume I have ever seen was a woman who wore her wedding dress," Schumacher said. "She wore the dress to symbolize her recent divorce."
Grand Rapids senior Jessica Flores said seeing all of the costume ideas is what she is most excited about.
"From what I hear, people can be pretty creative," she said.
This is Flores' first plunge and she said she actually recruited a few people to the cause.
"I was surprised how many people were interested," she said. "I just started talking about the plunge and hinted that it was going to be fun."
Each participant must raise a minimum of $50, Shoemaker said.
"We encourage the participants to think about people who they pay for services throughout the year (hairdresser, doctor, etc.)," she said. "These people usually reach out and help."
Last year, the top fundraiser was a CMU student who raised $15,000.
Safety concern also may be another issue people would consider when diving into the freezing water.
Schumacher said in the 11 years they have been hosting the plunge, there has not been one emergency, but they do take precautions.
"We will have the Mount Pleasant diving team and EMS staff on hand at the event," Shoemaker said. "But I wouldn't worry too much. The water is usually warmer than the air."
Flores said she has talked to some people who have plunged in the past, and they said the worst part was walking to the warming area after jumping in.
"Everyone agrees that it wasn't that bad," she said. "And quite a few people have done it more than once."
After the ice fest, participants are invited to attend a post-plunge party at The Cabin, 930 W. Broomfield Road, where prizes will be distributed.
"All the plungers will be there, enjoying food and recounting their individual plunges," Flores said. "It should be incredibly fun."
news@cm-life.com
But more than 100 Central Michigan University students and community members plan to jump into the icy water for Special Olympics Michigan's second annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge.
Jill Schumacher, director of development and events for Special Olympics, said this the event has taken place at various locations throughout the state for 11 years.
"People love coming out to this event," she said. "Not only is this a wonderful cause, but this is an original and fun event. It is pretty funny to see big, tough police officers take the plunge in a ballerina costume, but they do it for laughs and to raise awareness."
Schumacher said the tradition of wearing a costume has been around as long as the plunge.
"Probably the craziest costume I have ever seen was a woman who wore her wedding dress," Schumacher said. "She wore the dress to symbolize her recent divorce."
Grand Rapids senior Jessica Flores said seeing all of the costume ideas is what she is most excited about.
"From what I hear, people can be pretty creative," she said.
This is Flores' first plunge and she said she actually recruited a few people to the cause.
"I was surprised how many people were interested," she said. "I just started talking about the plunge and hinted that it was going to be fun."
Each participant must raise a minimum of $50, Shoemaker said.
"We encourage the participants to think about people who they pay for services throughout the year (hairdresser, doctor, etc.)," she said. "These people usually reach out and help."
Last year, the top fundraiser was a CMU student who raised $15,000.
Safety concern also may be another issue people would consider when diving into the freezing water.
Schumacher said in the 11 years they have been hosting the plunge, there has not been one emergency, but they do take precautions.
"We will have the Mount Pleasant diving team and EMS staff on hand at the event," Shoemaker said. "But I wouldn't worry too much. The water is usually warmer than the air."
Flores said she has talked to some people who have plunged in the past, and they said the worst part was walking to the warming area after jumping in.
"Everyone agrees that it wasn't that bad," she said. "And quite a few people have done it more than once."
After the ice fest, participants are invited to attend a post-plunge party at The Cabin, 930 W. Broomfield Road, where prizes will be distributed.
"All the plungers will be there, enjoying food and recounting their individual plunges," Flores said. "It should be incredibly fun."
news@cm-life.com
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