Cold-water challenge to benefit Special Olympics

All money raised from the Polar Bear Plunges helps Ohio Special Olympics.

STAFF REPORT

CORTLAND — The first of eight Special Olympics Ohio “Freezin’ For A Reason” Polar Bear Plunges in the state is Saturday at Mosquito Lake Park Beach off state Route 305 in Bazetta Township.

Registration for the Mosquito Lake event is at 11 a.m. Saturday, and the plunge is at 1:30 p.m., said Shawn Peura, of Warren, coordinator of the plunge. The event is sponsored by the Trumbull Moose Lodge in Warren.

Five teams had signed up for the Mosquito Lake plunge as of last week, and teams can still enter by calling (330) 898-5152 or visiting sooh.com or calling Special Olympics Ohio at (614) 239-7050, said Peura, a Warren firefighter.

As part of this experience, participants obtain monetary pledges of at least $75 each, and then agree to jump or slowly crawl into the water. All money raised from this special activity benefits the more than 22,000 Special Olympics athletes in Ohio, officials said.

Peura said Bazetta and Cortland city fire and police departments and Mosquito Lake State Park rangers will provide security and medical units.

He said volunteers will clear and cut a hole in the ice Friday afternoon and evening and again Saturday before the plunge. He said participants may not wear protective gear, such as a wet suit, and that there will be a costume contest judged by Y103-FM Radio personalities.

“Every year, a woman shows up in a bikini and a Santa hat,” Peura said.

Other Polar Bear Plunge events scheduled are:

Feb. 7, Ohio/Kentucky, Ohio River, Newport on the Levee, Ky.; Feb. 7, Lake Erie, Cedar Point, Sandusky; Feb. 14, Ohio University, Athens; Feb. 21, Geneva State Park in Geneva-on-the-Lake, Super Plunge; Feb. 28, Crew Stadium, Columbus; March 7, Grand Lake St. Mary’s, Celina; and March 14, Greater Dayton Plunge, Watson’s Pool, Centerville.

alcorn@vindy.com