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Brave jumps into freezing waters benefit Special Olympics
By Bridget Flynn
bflynn@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- One-hundred fifty-six people jumped in a lake Sunday, and all to benefit Special Olympics Illinois. Participants in the second annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge at Miller Park Lake collected over $30,000 in pledges to benefit SOI Heartland/Area 6. | Photo Gallery

Special Olympics provides sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in seven counties.

Organizers encouraged plungers to dress in costumes, and some plungers did so.

Darleta Gramm of Lexington and Valerie Funk of Gridley, long-time friends and second-time plungers, wore costumes that they described as “beach babes.” Both were clad in swimming suits and wore swim tubes around their waists. Valerie wore red high heels and a red hat. Darleta completed her ensemble with black panty-hose and heavy lipstick.

“We want to have fun and we want participants in Special Olympics to have fun,” said Gramm, whose son is disabled.

“We’re athletic and active,” said Funk, whose sister-in-law is disabled. “It’s fun to see the pride in their faces when they participate.”

All plungers were required to collect a minimum of $75 in donations and received a sweatshirt. Those who collected over $250 were given beach towels.

Chris Rogers, 53, of Clinton, stood in the registration line for his first plunge with his sons Shilo, 32, Tyler, 30, and Lucas, 26.

“Can you see the fear in my face?” Rogers said, opening his eyes widely. “I don’t like washing my hands in cold water, let alone my whole body.”

Shilo Rogers, a second-time plunger, apparently has no such fear of cold water, having been an assistant swimming coach at Lincoln College.

Tyler Rogers is vice president of residential services for the Association for the Developmentally Disabled, a Eureka organization with 15 residents who are SOI athletes. This year marked Tyler’s fourth plunge for SOI. Shilo estimated that he and his father and brothers together raised $1,300 to $1,400 in pledges.

Scott Robbins of Cities Radio 92.9, master of ceremonies, directed plungers to enter the water 10 at a time. Life guards stood 25 feet into the lake with a buoy in order to mark the farthest point that plungers were allowed to swim.

Katie Herriott, SOI area director, said that last year the lake was completely frozen and the ice needed to be broken. Such measures were not needed this year, as the lake was naturally partially melted. The national weather service web site said that the noon-time plunge took place in 57 degree weather.

But every plunger who was asked to describe the water said it was cold. After Gramm and Funk emerged from the water, Gramm described the experience as “freezin’ for a reason” and Funk called the water “frigid!”

After drying off, plungers received a lunch of sandwiches provided by Alexander’s Steak House.

McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery was among the plungers.

Four members of the Bloomington police union local decided to play with the “A” in their usual name, PBPA (Police Benevolent and Protective Association), and plunged as television’s A-Team. Nik Jones, a Bloomington police officer and committee member for the plunge, grew his hair so that he could shave the sides to make a Mohawk, and donned a red feather earring to plunge as B. A. Baracus.

Jones and four others from central Illinois were among the 23 plungers who from Feb. 22 to Feb. 23 entered Lake Michigan at the Northwestern University’s North Beach in Evanston in the third annual SUPER plunge to benefit SOI. The SUPER (Some Unbelievable Plungers Enter Repeatedly) plungers sacrificed sleep and warmth to enter the lake once every hour for 24 hours.

Take a look
Valerie Funk of Gridley, right, carrying high heels and Darleta Gramm of Lexington make the turn in the Polar Plunge at Miller Park Lake Sunday afternoon for Special Olympics. (The Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) (March 2, 2007)
MARC First team Tori Branda, Dustin Davis, Erica Davis and Tony Cade prepare for the Polar Plunge at Miller Park Lake Sunday afternoon for Special Olympics. (The Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) (March 2, 2007)
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Reader comments on this story - 5 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

JimmyChooGirl wrote on Mar 3, 2008 10:04 AM:

" Thank you for helping the disabled. AND how nice that Sunday was 66 degrees, I'm sure the water was still very cold but better than 20 degrees. : ) "

Nush wrote on Mar 3, 2008 9:29 AM:

" Outstanding!!

We used to make a plunge every New Year's Day up in Buffalo to benefit the local Children's Hospital....lots of fun and a great fundraiser!!!

You can only get so cold!! "

GOM wrote on Mar 3, 2008 8:37 AM:

" Great cause. Is the woman holding a pair of high heels? What is that all about? "

Chelly wrote on Mar 2, 2008 10:51 PM:

" Great job for all of them. At least it was warmer today than say it will be on Tuesday. "

Twin1 wrote on Mar 2, 2008 7:52 PM:

" Three cheers to you. They should have given them hot coffee too. Thanks for helping the disabled. "
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