Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Alki, report #1

(Our second report on Polar Plunge, with more video and photos, can be seen here)

If you haven’t seen the photos and updates in our Twitter stream yet – Special Olympics’ Polar Plunge at Alki made a huge splash this past hour or so. Organizers tell us about 350 people registered to plunge – triple last year (which was at a different location). The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a special focus of this, and there was a big law-enforcement turnout – including Acting SPD Chief John Diaz, state Attorney General Rob McKenna and the chiefs of the Washington State Patrol and Lakewood Police Department, among others.

Awards were handed out in contests pre-plunge – among the winners, a Chief Sealth High School group (here with Athletic Director Sam Reed) for the most spirit. (Here they are pre-plunge.)

WSB was among the co-sponsors, which also included Ivars – donating chowder post-plunge, and swimmers to go in:

ADDED 12:32 PM: Some video – Plungers didn’t all go in at once, they were broken into groups. This one included the Chief Sealth students, and also, toward the end of the clip, a guy who loved the experience so much, he had to run right back in:

ADDED 1:39 PM: The warmup act for this cool event – the Seahawks’ Blue Thunder drum line:

ADDED 8:31 PM: The law-enforcement lineup before they went into the water – that’s Southwest Precinct Captain Joe Kessler waving:

The video of them going in, will be part of our followup later tonight.

JH January 24, 2010 (11:47 am)

That was so much fun!

k January 24, 2010 (11:56 am)

i can cross this off my bucket list! it was fantastic! had a great time and for a great cause! thanks to the WSB!

Carrie Ann January 24, 2010 (12:50 pm)

Hah, k! that’s exactly what I said, too! Except now I think I’m hooked. I’ll be back next year, for sure. Such a fun and rewarding event, and jumping in wasn’t even as torturous as I was anticipating. Not to mention, I treated myself to the longest, most satisfying, hot shower upon my return home. Now the kids and I are having some hot chocolate. Not too shabby a way to spend a Sunday morning.

JH January 24, 2010 (1:03 pm)

I’m hooked too. I’m going to start finding other polar plunges to do! And Carrie, I had the longest hottest shower ever when I got home too!

LMA January 24, 2010 (3:42 pm)

You all are so brave.Maybe I will do one some time . :)

Mary Do January 24, 2010 (6:30 pm)

On behalf of Special Olympics Washington, THANK YOU WSB for your support! Through your generosity and support, we raised over $30,000 for local Special Olympics programs.

THANK YOU!

Mary

Mary Do January 24, 2010 (6:30 pm)

AND of course, thank you for all of you that took the PLUNGE! :)

JH January 24, 2010 (7:10 pm)

You’re welcome Mary! I met to find you to meet you in person. We’ve corresponded via email before (except now my name is different-I know Rick??). I’ve done a few things for Special Olympics but want to do more! I’ll send you an email from work.