Online registration has opened for one of the coolest events of the winter – the 2017 Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge® to benefit Special Olympics Illinois! Individuals and teams can register for the Plunge on the Special Olympics Illinois website at www.plungeillinois.com or by contacting the Special Olympics Illinois staff listed below.
It’s not every day that people are willing to “go jump in a lake” – particularly in the winter – let alone do so with thousands of other people, including members of the law enforcement community. But that’s exactly what will happen on various weekends in February and March as part of the annual Polar Plunge presented by GEICO.
The Polar Plunge is one of the premier fundraising events for the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics Illinois. In 2016, more than $1.9 million was raised by 6,480 Plungers statewide; in 18 years, $16.5 million has been raised by more than 60,000 Plungers. The event has grown from one location in 1999 to 22 locations across the state (see list below) this year. The Polar Plunge season will kick off with a SUPER Plunge – where participants raise a minimum of $2,500 and plunge into Lake Michigan once an hour every hour for 24 hours – on Feb. 17 & 18 at the Clark Street Beach in Evanston.
Any adventurous soul is invited to join law enforcement officers, as well as media and business and civic leaders from their community by donning bathing suits, costumes or any clothing of choice (just no wet suits!) to jump in a lake. Each Plunger must collect a minimum of $100 in donations that will be used to support Special Olympics programs in Illinois.
Plungers are encouraged to form teams to spread the fun. Each team member must raise the minimum of $100 in donations and all team members’ individual fundraising totals will be merged to form a combined team total. Teams are placed into divisions based on size and are awarded prizes for the most money raised.
All Plungers will receive gifts, compete for prizes, and enjoy food and camaraderie with other chilly participants. For every $500 a Plunger raises, he/she will get an entry into the drawing for this grand prize.
2017 Polar Plunge locations, dates and contact info:
SUPER Plunge – 2 p.m. Friday, February 17, to 1 p.m. Saturday, February 18 (Plunging once an hour every hour for 24 hours)
Lake Michigan, Clark Street Beach, Evanston
Contact: Sandy Nash, 309-888-2551
Lake Michigan, Evanston – 1 p.m. Saturday, February 18
Lake Michigan, Clark Street Beach, Evanston
Contact: Kristen Wisniewski, 847-370-7370
Palatine – noon Sunday, February 19
Twin Lakes, Salt Creek Park District
Contact: Jordan Feldman, 224-234-8635
Bloomington – 10:30 a.m. & Noon Saturday, February 25
Miller Park Lake
Contact: Jordan Vose, 309-888-2678
Carbondale – noon Saturday, February 25
SIU Recreation Center
Polar Donut Dash 5K at 9:30 a.m.
Contact: Josh Paddock, 618-457-2969
Carlyle – noon Saturday, February 25
Carlyle Lake, Main Beach
Polar Donut Dash 5K at 9:30 a.m.
Contact: Justin Dunning, 618-654-6680
Mahomet/Champaign – noon Saturday, February 25
Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Polar Donut Dash 5K at 10 a.m.
Contact: Jackie Walk, 217-355-1750
Quincy – noon Saturday, February 25
Moorman Lake, Upper Moorman Park
Contact: Heather Davis, 217-322-7451
Mendota – noon Saturday, February 25
Lake Mendota
Contact: Allison Nichols, 815-220-8128
Fox Lake – 1 p.m. Sunday, February 26
Lake Front Park
Contact: Brenden Cannon, 224-377-8378
Galesburg – 2 p.m. Sunday, February 26
Lake Storey
Contact: Jennifer Davis, 309-337-9326
Decatur – noon Saturday, March 4
The Beach House, Nelson Park, Lake Decatur
Contact: Joanie Keyes, 217-428-9255
Effingham – noon Saturday, March 4
Lake Sara
Contact: Vanessa Duncan, 217-345-2424
Manteno – 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4
Manteno Lake, Manteno Sportsmen’s Club
Contact: Patty Welsh, 708-991-7564
Oak Brook – 1 p.m. Saturday, March 4
Oak Brook Bath and Tennis Club
Contact: Katie Grisham, 630-545-3402
Rend Lake – noon Saturday, March 4
South Sandusky Beach, Rend Lake
Contact: Rhonda Knight, 618-383-4400
Rockford – noon Saturday, March 4
Olson Lake, Rock Cut State Park
Contact: Debbie Kelly, 815-739-2052
Springfield – noon Saturday, March 4
Knights of Columbus Hall #4179, Lake Springfield, Chatham
Contact: Lynde Dobson, 217-544-3023
Macomb – 2 p.m. Sunday, March 5
Spring Lake, Macomb
Contact: Jennifer Davis, 309-337-9326
Yorkville – 1 p.m. Sunday, March 5
Loon Lake, Silver Springs State Park
Contact: Amanda Nelson, 630-942-5616
Joliet – noon Saturday, March 11
Leisure Lakes, 21900 SW Frontage Road
Contact: Patty Welsh, 708-991-7564
Lincoln – noon Saturday, March 18
Knights of Columbus Hall, Lincoln Lakes Private Beach
Contact: Joanie Keyes, 217-428-9255
Rock Island – 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19
Wick’s Lake, Jumer’s Casino & Hotel
Contact: Jennifer Davis, 309-337-9326
The Illinois 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 increase public awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois. Each year, more than 3,000 officers in Illinois run more than 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and deliver it to the State Summer Games in Normal in June.
