Crazy polar plungers to swim Saturday | Community Spirit

BELLEVUE, KY (FOX19) - The Polar Plunge for Special Olympics returns for its second year at Joe’s Crab Shack in Bellevue on Saturday (Feb. 4).

More than 700 brave men and women are expected to show their support for Special Olympics by participating in the Plunge.  This is the event’s 13th anniversary overall and the sixth that it has supported Special Olympics programs in both Kentucky and Ohio. 

Registration for the Polar Plunge kicks off at 9 am and the event begins at 11.

Participants raise a minimum of $75 ($50 for those under 18) and then take a plunge into a pool that will be set up in the Joe’s Crab Shack parking lot.  

Many of the participants will be in costumes and competing in the annual costume contest. Costume contest judges include Cincinnati Reds great Tommy Helms and former Highlands, UK and New York Giants quarterback Jared Lorenzen as well as Special Olympics athletes from both states. Prizes are also awarded for the largest corporate, law enforcement and fraternity/sorority/school group as well as the top fundraising group. The top male and female fundraisers will be declared the King, Queen, Prince and Princess of the Plunge during the event and will receive prize packages.

Last year, a record 650 Polar Bears took part, raising an event record $165,000 to support Special Olympics programs of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Kentucky and Ohio.

The event will be held rain or shine. It cannot be rescheduled. They will make every effort to notify local media about any delays due to possible severe weather. As of Friday, the forecast showed almost a hundred per cent chanc eof rain , but little chance of severe weather, and no chance of snow with temperatures in the 40's.

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