Third Law Enforcement Polar Plunge to be Feb. 24

 No comments  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

By The Lincoln Journal Star

Some might call jumping into an ice cold lake in the dead of winter crazy.

But the people who plan to leap into Holmes Lake Saturday for the third annual Law Enforcement Torch Run’s Polar Bear Plunge 2007 say it’s all for a good cause.

The motto on the event registration form reads: “Freezin’ for a Reason,” and the money raised by the plungers goes to Special Olympics Nebraska.

Participants collect pledges from friends and family before jumping into the cold water — preferably in costume.

“Everybody is laughing at each other, at their costumes as they’re jumping into the lake,” said Lincoln Police Sgt. Jerome Thraen, an organizer who’s planning to dress as a shark this year.

The first year the fundraising event came to Lincoln, 50 people plunged, helping raise $3,000, Thraen said.

Last year, 150 plungers helped raise $17,000, Thraen said.

“I have a pie in the sky goal — whether it’s achievable, I don’t know,” Thraen said. “I’d like to see 500 plungers, and if possible raise $50,000.”

People can participate in teams or individually.

Thraen expects representatives from Lincoln Police, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol to show up for a little friendly competition.

Prizes are awarded for most outrageous costume, most money raised by an individual, most original team theme and oldest and youngest plungers, Thraen said.

Special Olympics athletes will judge the costumes, he said.