Polar Plunge at Effingham Set for Leap Day

Polar Plungers will brave the frigid water as they leap into Lake Sara in Effingham, on Saturday, February 29, Leap Day. The funds raised from the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge® will benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois.

The Effingham Plunge will take place at Lake Sara. Registration is at 10:00 a.m. on the day of the Polar Plunge, and pre-registration is at the same location on Friday, February 28, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

All Polar Plungers are required to collect a minimum of $100 in donations. People are encouraged to come in costume and to form teams.

To form a team, each member (minimum of five people to qualify) must raise a minimum of $100 in donations. Meeting these requirements will qualify plungers for team prizes. 

Plungers will receive incentive prizes based on the amount of money they raise. By raising the minimum of $100, you will receive an official Plunge hooded sweatshirt. Sweatshirts will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis the day of the plunge. All individuals who do not receive a sweatshirt or other incentive level prizes will be mailed a corresponding prize in April.

Over the past 21 years, more than 78,000 plungers have raised more than $22 million. Those ready to #beboldgetcold this winter are invited to join the conversation and share on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Participants can register for the Plunge at www.plungeillinois.com or by contacting Vanessa Duncan at 217-345-2424 or vduncan@soill.org.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run® is the single largest year-round fundraising vehicle benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. The annual intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two goals: to raise money and to gain awareness for the athletes who participate in Special Olympics Illinois. The Law Enforcement Torch Run® has raised more than $56 million over 34 years while increasing awareness of Special Olympics Illinois athletes and their accomplishments.

Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit sports organization offering year-round training and competition in 18 sports for more than 23,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and over 17,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. It strives to be a global leader in shaping a culture where people with and without intellectual disabilities are fully integrated into the community by providing year-round opportunities in competitive sports, health education, leadership, and personal development. If you are interested in being a part of Special Olympics Illinois and its vision, contact your local region, call 800-394-0562 or visit the website at www.soill.org. Follow Special Olympics Illinois on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.