This year, take the ‘Polar Plunge’ on Valentine’s Day
On Saturday, February 14th — that’s right, Valentine’s Day — more than 400 people will take turns plunging into the icy Deschutes River at Riverbend Park. It’s the statewide annual Oregon Law Enforcement Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Oregon, presented by Fred Meyer.
Participants will raise more than half a million dollars for athletes with intellectual disabilities. And this year, the rivalry between Beaver and Duck fans is heating up the icy plunge.
Between February 7 and 28, five Oregon cities will host similar plunges with a total of nearly 4,000 participants. Each participant must raise a minimum of $50 in pledges for the privilege of plunging.
The Bend Plunge, held on the Saturday morning of Winterfest, will feature a costume contest at 10:30 AM, with the plungers entering the water shortly after 11 AM. Those who’ve met the fundraising minimum but are “Too Chicken to Plunge” are welcome to watch from the shore, cheering on the brave Plungers who go all the way in.
NEW THIS YEAR: All participants in the 2015 Polar Plunge will have the opportunity to declare their allegiance by choosing Beavers or Ducks in the BEAVS VS DUCKS CHALLENGE!
The team with the most dollars raised for the Polar Plunge benefitting Special Olympics Oregon will be declared the winner. The winning school’s president will proudly take home the trophy and bragging rights for their school for the year.
The statewide event got its start in 2007, when Central Oregon Law Enforcement and
SOOR teamed up for a plunge in Bend’s Deschutes River as a wintertime fundraiser. As the event grew in popularity, SOOR added plunges in four other Oregon communities. The Plunge is now the largest single fundraiser for the non-profit.
Polar Plungers can participate as individuals or recruit a group of friends to run into the water as a team. Many businesses have used it as a team-building exercise and community service project for their employees.
The Oregon Law Enforcement Polar Plunge presented by Fred Meyer is made possible with extensive support from Oregon law enforcement agencies through the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) program, the largest grassroots fundraising effort for Special Olympics. This year’s Polar Plunge will receive volunteer help with security, safety, publicity and plunging from 23 law enforcement agencies around the state.
In Bend, the Bend Police Department will be joined by officers, personnel and support from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Several hundred law enforcement officers from nearly 30 agencies will be taking the plunge statewide.
The Bend Plunge presented by Fred Meyer is also made possible by the generous
support of local sponsors: Les Schwab, Coca Cola, Starbucks, Regence, PEMCO, Winterfest, Rock 98.3, KTVZ-TV, Bend Broadband and the Bend Bulletin.
People wishing to take the Plunge for Special Olympics Oregon can register online at PlungeOregon.com. Those who don’t want to go into the cold water can support another plunger or team, or they can take the “Too Chicken to Plunge” option. Details are at www.PlungeOregon.com.
