LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — The 10th anniversary of the Polar Plunge Kentucky Special Olympics, “Freezin’ for a Reason,” will take place Saturday at Lee’s Ford Resort and Marina in Somerset.

“This is one of the biggest Special Olympics fundraisers of the year,” said Josh Kesler, special project coordinator for Kentucky Special Olympics. “The plunge is a truly unique event and includes a fun, festive atmosphere with food and great prizes.”

The plunge works just like a Walk-a-Thon, but with one big twist. Participants, known as Polar Bears, still solicit donations to support their effort, but instead of walking, they take a chilly dip into Lake Cumberland.

Last year, a record of 142 Polar Bears took the Plunge, raising more than $30,000 to support the efforts of Special Olympics Kentucky athletes. All funds raised stay in state to help these athletes.

On-site registration will be from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday, with the opening ceremonies and costume contest taking place at 11 a.m. You can dress in your most unique costume with a chance to win prizes.

The plunge officially begins at 11:30 a.m. with the awards ceremony taking place at 1:30 p.m. You can register as an individual or a team.

Cost to register is $75 for adults and $50 for junior plungers ages 6 to 18. You can also solicit donations and help raise even more money for the Special Olympics.

For $75, plungers will receive a Polar Plunge T-shirt. For $250, you get a Plunge towel and 1 grand prize entry. A $500 donation gets you a custom 24 ounce Tervis Tumbler and 3 grand prizes entries. For $1,000 you get a Polar Plunge hoodie and 6 grand prize entries. If you raise $1,500, you get a Plunge backpack with laptop sleeve and nine grand prize entries. A $2,500 donation and you will receive an Eddie Bauer Plunge jacket and 12 grand prize entries, and for $5,000, you get an Ogio rolling suitcase and 15 grand prize entries. The grand prize is a Carnival Cruise vacation.

And for those of you who are afraid of the cold, you can still participate in the “Too Chicken To Plunge” event and get a “Too Chicken To Plunge” T-shirt. You must raise a minimum of $75, and junior chickens must raise a minimum of $50.

Temperatures are supposed to be around 50 degrees on Saturday. The lake temperature is currently 45.7 degrees.

For more information you can visit kyplunge.com, or call Josh Kesler at 1-502-695-8222, ext. 103. Also, Special Olympics are always looking for volunteers.



sports@sentinel-echo.com