Plunging for Special Olympics

Andrew Ellis, 16, (center) and the “Rhett’s Polar Plungers” team of Fayetteville High School sophomores takes the plunge Saturday during the Beaver Lake Polar Plunge at Prairie Creek recreation area near Rogers.
Andrew Ellis, 16, (center) and the “Rhett’s Polar Plungers” team of Fayetteville High School sophomores takes the plunge Saturday during the Beaver Lake Polar Plunge at Prairie Creek recreation area near Rogers.

ROGERS -- More than 325 people and many of them in costumes took a plunge Saturday in Beaver Lake.

Looney Tune characters, super heroes, other costume characters and others participated in the Beaver Lake Polar Plunge.

Source: Special Olympics Arkansas

The mission of Special Olympics Arkansas is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Special Olympics Arkansas offer 20 different sports and hold over 240 competitions throughout the state each year.

The event raised more than $50,000 for Special Olympics Arkansas, according to Donna Kilmer, Northwest Arkansas field representative for Special Olympics.

Rodney Robinson, who was dressed as "Marvin the Martian," said it was his second year to take the plunge. "My son is a special athlete and I work with special kids," Robinson said.

The water was 42 degrees and Robinson said he participated in a plunge in Nevada when the weather was 20 degrees.

"It helps raise money for the kids," Robinson said. "It's all worth it just to see the smiles on their faces."

Robinson works with Patty Seal at Ruth Barker Middle School in Bentonville. Seal said she's has participated in most of the plunges since they began holding them.

Seal is a special education teacher and Special Olympics coach.

"If you ever attend a Special Olympics event and watch them run or get to the finish line, then it will change you," Seal said.

Seal said 30 teachers from the school participated in the event and it's become a school event each year.

It was Pam Wilks second year to participate in the plunge. She work's for Walmart and was dressed as "Spark Girl."

Wilks said it was colder last year, but she's was more nervous this year about jumping in the water.

"It's a great way to give back to the community," Wilks said. "We have a great time and we use it as a team building event."

Angela Rose and Jennifer Stallbaumer work at the Cat Clinic of Northwest Arkansas. Stallbaumer was dressed as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle while Rose was dressed as Olympic snowboarder Sean White.

Stallbaumer said they support Special Olympics and have been participating in the plunge for several years.

Jodi Robinson of Bentonville, who was dressed as a rubber ducky, said her son participates in the Special Olympics and it was her first year to participate in the plunge.

Robinson said she's seen first-hand the impact Special Olympics has had on her son's life. "It's made him more confident and given him the chance to interact with more people," she said.

Zachary Hutchinson, 14, who attends Lincoln Junior High School, said the water was a lot colder than people think. It was his first year to participate in the plunge. He said he just wanted to help raise money for Special Olympics.

Kilmer said she was pleased with the turnout and each year the plunge gets bigger and bigger.

Mark Jordan, a Bentonville police detective, participated in the 15 prior plunges, but couldn't Saturday because of a recent knee surgery.

Jordan said he was one of 17 people that participated in the first plunge and they raised $3,000. Jordan said he was glad to how the event has grown over the years.

NW News on 02/15/2015

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