Hundreds plunge into lake to support Illinois Special Olympics
News-Sun staff report March 3, 2013 3:05PM
Lake Forest High School junior Geno Quaid leads a group of Lake Forest High School Mens Club students back to the beach during the Law Enforcement Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Sunrise Beach in Lake Bluff on Saturday, Mar. 2, 2013. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: April 5, 2013 6:13AM
Don’t know if the event qualifies as “fun.”
But it certainly qualifies as important and significant.
On Saturday, more than 200 people braved air temperature in the 20s and a water temperature that was barely above freezing to participate in the Polar Plunge event at Sunset Beach in Lake Bluff.
The event was sponsored in part by the Lake Bluff Police Department and funds raised are earmarked for Illinois Special Olympics.
Plungers raised money through donations and then contributed it to the fund before taking the run from the sand at Sunset Beach into Lake Michigan.
It was estimated that plungers raised around $75,000 for the charity.
The Lake Bluff Polar Plunge was one of 20 held by police departments throughout the state during February and March to raise money for Illinois Special Olympics.
Plungers checked in at the Lake Bluff Park District building, were bussed to Sunset Beach to take the Plunge in the early afternoon, and then returned to the park district facility for an after-plunge party.
