Story and photo by Sam Hassan
Pirates shivered, firefighters quivered and the Special Olympics of Oregon (SOOR) delivered as participants courageously plunged into the icy waters of the Willamette River. You may wonder why on earth anyone would perform such an audacious act in the middle of a Pacific Northwest winter. It was all in support of SOOR on Saturday, Feb 22 at Maurie Jacobs Park in Eugene. More than 300 brave participants, all dressed in different costumes and outfits, dove into the treacherous water to assist intellectually disabled children and adults throughout the state.
Brittany Quick-Warner, the event manager for the plunge, spoke to the importance of the annual dip: “I love the Polar Plunge because it’s a way for a lot of people who don’t interact with the Special Olympics to make a difference and become a part of the organization.”
Quick-Warner, who before the event was unsure just how deep into the water she would advance, confidently plunged to the deepest portion of the dive area. It was an inspiring moment for everyone in attendance to see people of all ages in the community come out on a chilly Eugene morning.
“It was so fun!” said Katie Barrier, a plunger on the UO Kappa Alpha Theta sorority team. “Having a huge crowd of people cheering you on for such a great cause made it a really cool experience. I’m looking forward to doing it again next year!”
To participate in the event, each plunger needed to raise a minimum of $50. The goal going into the plunge was to raise $30,000. According to the official website, the Eugene plunge raised a total of $34,287, exceeding expectations and providing smiles all around. This total is one to rejoice about considering the event was rescheduled from the previous date of Feb. 8 because of the snowstorm that swept across Eugene that weekend.
Proceeds from the Polar Plunge contribute to Special Olympics programs in Eugene and allow athletes to compete in tournaments around Oregon. SOOR serves more than 10,000 participants each year with intellectual disabilities, offering training and competition opportunities in 14 different Olympic-style sports.
A costume contest preceded the plunge. A team of mean-looking pirates representing a local Eugene Starbucks took home the prize. After participants plunged into the water, hot chocolate and coffee provided warmth to the courageous plungers. A photo booth called the PhotoSwagon was also set up for participants to capture the moment and create life-long memories of their fearless leap.
The Oregon Law Enforcement and Fred Meyer hosted the event. This was the fifth Polar Plunge event to be held in Eugene. Eugene is one of five cities in Oregon, along with Portland, Medford, Bend, and Corvallis that host the annual plunge.
Maurie Jacobs Park was full of laughter and smiles on this chilly morning as members from all over the community dove into the frigid water of the Willamette. The direct impact this event makes on the lives of thousands of Special Olympics athletes is extraordinary. The Plunge, as the largest Special Olympics fundraiser in the state of Oregon, even gets pirates to donate their precious booty.
 
 
 

Gallery • 3 Photos

Brrrring it on!