Freezin’ for a Cause: $16,000 raised for Manhattan Particular Olympics at this yr’s Polar Plunge

This yr’s Polar Plunge raised over $16,000 for Manhattan’s Particular Olympics, with over 85 polar plunge members freezing for a cause on Saturday, March 26, at Tuttle Creek State Park.

Krystin Guggisberg, sports activities and program supervisor of Particular Olympics Kansas, stated this yr’s occasion was a hit.

“We had lovely climate, we had a ton of individuals present up and our fundraising was nice this yr,” Guggisberg stated.

The cash raised on the Polar Plunge goes to funding sporting occasions, athlete management and well being checks.

“We have now almost 100 athletes within the Manhattan neighborhood alone,” Guggisberg stated. “The cash raised from this goes to funding the occasions we do year-round, our athlete management programming that we do and plenty of well being and promotions that we do. All of our athletes get screened for wholesome eyes, wholesome ears and wholesome toes.”

Plungers increase not less than $75 to take part within the Polar Plunge and sometimes create groups to lift cash and compete in varied contests such because the costume contest.

This yr’s theme for the costume contest was “Polar Opposites,” however groups took the theme in many various instructions, together with teams dressing up as polar bears, Kansas State followers and the band Kiss.

Riley County Police Division dispatcher Isabelle Terpstra was a part of the police division’s dispatch staff that dressed up as Kiss. Terpstra stated she enjoys the costume contest yearly. She has dressed up as Barnacle Boy and Mermaid Man from “SpongeBob” and a “Powerpuff Woman” in years previous.

Associated:

REVIEW: Fashionable relationship thriller ‘Contemporary’ serves up horrific twist

Learn Now

Though the dispatch staff misplaced the competition to Riley County Emergency Medical Companies, they’d painted smiles on their faces the entire time.

“The costume contest is basically enjoyable,” Terpstra stated. “Going into the water could be very chilly and horrible, however it’s all for an excellent trigger, and we’re right here to lift cash, so that’s what we are going to do.”

Many Ok-State college students volunteered and took part within the Polar Plunge. Zachary Kley, senior in mechanical engineering, volunteers with the occasion via his fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma.

“I wish to volunteer my time, however I additionally wish to have enjoyable, so I all the time get actually excited to do the Polar Plunge,” Kley stated. “Final yr, I did a stomach flop.”

Kley continued the stomach flop custom this yr as effectively. Stomach flops apart, the neighborhood help for this occasion could be very encouraging to the athletes and their households.

“We’re so thrilled to have so many Ok-State college students concerned,” Guggisberg stated. “So many neighborhood members, athletes and their households all the time come out full drive for this occasion — so for them to see the neighborhood present up for this occasion is basically enjoyable.”

Dispatch Supervisor for RCPD Amanda Randazzo encourages individuals to be taught extra concerning the athletes they assist.

“Take a look at a few of the kids that we assist: it helps them come out, compete, be athletes and do one of the best that they will,” Randazzo stated. “It truly is nearly serving to them do their greatest.”

Extra methods to get entangled can be found via the Kansas Particular Olympics web site.