On weekdays, they are graduate students in the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University. But on Saturday, they were The League of Extraordinary Dorks, running wildly into the chilly Willamette River.
Decked out in capes, masks and spandex, 10 graduate students assumed alternate identities for a few hours on Saturday morning, including Wonder Woman, Supernova, The World’s Strongest Man in the World, Super Dyno and Captain Awkward and his dog, Super G.
Nearly 150 people joined the superheroes for Eugene’s first annual Polar Plunge fundraiser event, which raised $25,000 for Special Olympics Oregon.
The event consisted of individuals and teams running into the 43-degree Willamette River after collecting pledges to support Special Olympics.
“It’s an opportunity for grad students to come together for a great cause,” Extraordinary Dorks member Mark McCaffery, community & regional planning graduate student, said before the plunge.
Wonder Woman Tiffany Hall, public administration graduate student, said the Extraordinary Dorks exceeded their fundraising goal — together they raised $1,180 for Special Olympics Oregon.
All the money raised during the Polar Plunge event was donated to the Special Olympics sports program to help finance transportation and lodging during competitions, according to Joann Stoller, director of sports for Special Olympics Oregon.
Special Olympics Oregon sponsored Polar Plunges in Portland and Bend last year and added ones in Eugene, Corvallis and Medford this year.
Before the official plunge, there was a costume contest and several prizes awarded to teams and individuals. The Extraordinary Dorks won awards for the largest team and best theme.
The University’s Delta Gamma sorority won an award for raising the most money of any team — more than $1,200.
Special Olympics volunteers were pleased by the student involvement but not surprised.
“They are always willing to go to the extreme to support the dreams of other people,” Mark Evertz, vice president of marketing and public relations for Special Olympics Oregon, said of the students.
After the plunge, the Extraordinary Dorks were wide-eyed but smiling.
“It was awesome; I feel amazing. I’m not cold — I’ll go back in again and again.” Hall said.
The event also featured a booth called Pledge and Plunge, a new Special Olympics campaign to end use of the derogatory use of the word “retard” called Spread the Word to End the Word.
The program works with high school students to raise awareness and money for Special Olympics while working to get rid of the “r-word.”
“For many people, ‘retard’ is a hurtful word, and all we’re doing is asking people to just choose a different word,” said Jean Hansen, coordinator of the Pledge and Plunge program.
Plunge organizers took extra steps to ensure the event was safe and fun for everyone. The Lane County Sheriff’s Water Search and Rescue Unit lined the plunge area; heated tents were available for plungers; and rules, including “no diving, flipping or twisting into the water,” were clarified before the plunge.
The event went off without a hitch. Despite the high-pitched shrieks of those running into the water and the repeated “I can’t feel my toes!” of those hobbling out, by the end of the event the soggy crowd was happily sipping on soup, coffee and hot chocolate and discussing plans for a bigger and better plunge next year.
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