REND LAKE, Ill. -- Three Polar Plunge events are set to take place in southern Illinois in 2025.
These events support Special Olympics Illinois athletes and have raised millions of dollars across the state since the program started more than 25 years ago.
Money raised at the events will help programs and the athletes in southern Illinois for the Region K district which includes counties of Alexander, Clay, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White and Williamson.
The first polar plunge event in southern Illinois is the Frosty Face Off which will be on February 20, 2025. This event is only for select school to participate in.
The next event is the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge at the Outdoor Education Center in Makanda on February 25, 2025, at 11 a.m.聽聽or donate to a plunger for this event.
The third event is the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge which will take place at South Sandusky Beach at in Benton, Illinois on March 1, 2025, at 1 p.m.聽聽for this event.
Donations are also welcome. You can find the聽.
The Polar Plunge started in Lake Bluff in 1999 with 150 plungers. This event raised more than $34,000. Since then, thousands of people plunged in the frigid waters across the state of Illinois, supporting Special Olympics Illinois for more than two dozen years.
In 2024, the Polar raised $2.4 million. This was a record-breaking amount which supports life-changing programming with the Special Olympics in Illinois.
Below is the mission statement...
Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit sports organization offering year-round training and competition in 18 sports to a community of more than 55,000 traditional athletes, Young Athletes, Unified partners, coaches, volunteers, and more. 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.
