Taking the plunge!
Members of the Boston College community will have an opportunity to support Massachusetts Special Olympics when the Boston College Police Department, in collaboration with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics and BC Special Olympics, holds the second annual BC Polar Plunge on April 6.
The event takes place at noon in front of the Margot Connell Recreation Center. Participants who have committed to raising funds for Massachusetts Special Olympics athletes will jump into 30-degree water contained in an above-ground mobile swimming pool.
Every year, Special Olympics Massachusetts’ supporters gather together to plunge—whether into oceans, lakes, or pools. Polar Plunge proceeds directly support year-round sports training and competition for Massachusetts athletes with intellectual disabilities.
After having raised nearly $24,000 last year, BC Polar Plunge organizers upped their fundraising goal to $30,000, and they have reason to be optimistic: The number of participants for 2024 is already more than double the 74 who registered last year.
Photos from last year's inaugural BC Polar Plunge (Courtesy of BCPD Facebook)
“We had originally started out with a goal of $10,000 last year, met that, bumped it up to 15, met that, and eventually bumped it up to 25,” said BCPD Detective Kevin Christopher, a delegate for the Special Olympics and a chief organizer for the plunge. “$25,000 for a first-time event is almost unheard of. We were really, really excited, so of course we are looking forward to this year.”
Polar Plunge participants often wear humorous, imaginative costumes, and the event is further enlivened by refreshments, music, prizes, and Polar Plunge mascot P-Bear the Polar Bear. Christopher noted that this year will feature a brand-new plunge pool, “Bear Force One,” named for P-Bear.
Boston College has had a longtime relationship with Special Olympics Massachusetts, having once served as host for the organization’s Summer Games event, which this year will take place June 7-9. For years, BCPD has hosted the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Cruiser Convoy that will start on the BC campus and finish up at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. The competitions will take place at the Harvard University Athletic Complex.
The creation of the BC Polar Plunge was part of an effort to reintroduce fundraising activities at the collegiate level, noted Christopher, who hopes that other Boston-area colleges and universities will follow suit.
“I would love to have BU, Northeastern, and Harvard do the plunge with us and have one big trophy like the Beanpot, for whichever school raises the most money that year,” he said.
To join or donate to the BC Polar Plunge, visit the Special Olympics Massachusetts website.