The Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Kentucky once again hit the waters of Lake Cumberland on Saturday, February 27, with nearly 100 people taking the plunge into the lake from houseboats docked at Lee’s Ford Resort and Marina in Nancy.
Groups from all over the state, as well as some out of state participants, came to the region to participate in one of the state’s most unique fundraisers.
“This has consistently been a great event for our program and for our athletes,” said Anna Beth Logan, Special Events Director for Special Olympics Kentucky and one of the event’s organizers, “even as one of six Polar Plunges we do in the state, this one is unique because of the atmosphere that has built up around it. People come in the night before the Plunge and a lot of them stay for the Saturday night party they have after the event, so it has become a weekend long celebration in support of Special Olympics.”
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A Polar Bear dressed as a Polar Bear took their basketball into the lake for a little fun. |
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This year that celebration raised nearly $32,000 for the program. Once again, that effort was led by Polar Plunge chair Rodney Henry of Somerset, who defended his title as King of the Polar Plunge (top individual male fundraiser) by raising $2,830. His team from lakecumberland.com was the top fundraising team at $5,078. Other award winners were Queen of the Polar Plunge Lindsey Gadberry, who raised $700, Prince of the Plunge (top male fundraiser under 12) Logan Lauch, who raised $545 and Princess of the Plunge Brynlee Bigalow, who raised $250.
In addition to lakecumberland.com, other top teams included the Bardstown Brrr-buns which had 19 members to win the Polar Cup as the largest corporate or civic team and the Oakwood Frozen Eagles, whose 9 members took home the Polar Cup for the Largest School Group. Wal-Mart also got involved in the Polar Plunge effort with three teams from several different stores.
View More Photos of the Polar Plunge
View Photos From the Awards Ceremony
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Plunge Chair Rodney Henry defended his title as King of the Plunge, raising $2,830 this year. |
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This was the seventh year for the Lake Cumberland Polar Plunge, which got its start in 2004 at the Jamestown Resort and Marina. In all, the event has raised nearly $200,000 for Special Olympics in its history. This year’s six Special Olympics Polar Plunges in Kentucky set an overall record with nearly 2,500 participants raising more than $618,000 at events in Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro, Newport and at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in addition to Lake Cumberland.
The success of the Lake Cumberland Plunge was the result of a tremendous commitment the local committee, led by Rodney Henry, made to promote and expand the Plunge, we are deeply grateful to them. It was also helped along by so many great sponsors who chipped in — Lee's Ford Resort and The Harbor Restaurant; Fruit of the Loom, which donated all the t-shirts for the Polar Bears; AAA Travel, which provided a Caribbean Cruise for one Polar Bear from the five Kentucky events; The Kentucky Law Enforcement Torch Run; Blue Grass Cellular; Rick's Cars, Etc.; Monticello Bank; Marine Assist Association; Franklin Chevrolet-Pontiac-GMC; Home Town Talk WSFC, World Class Talk 910 WSFE, K93 Country WSEK, Lake 102.3, and Q97 Classic Hits.
The Lake Cumberland Plunge was one of five Polar Bear Plunges in Kentucky in 2009, and helped this Polar Bear Plunge season set another fundraising record for the state. Plunges in Lake Cumberland, Lexington, Louisville, Newport, Owensboro and Western Kentucky combined to see a record 2,400 people jump in pools, lakes or rivers to raise a record $618,300 for Special Olympics programs.
The 2011 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 26, 2011. For more information on how you can get involved in next year’s event as a participant or for sponsorship information, contact Anna Beth Logan at 800-633-7403 or ablogan@soky.org.
King of the Plunge — Rodney Henry, LakeCumberland.com; $2,830 raised
Queen of the Plunge — Lindsey Gadberr; $700 raised
Prince of the Plunge — Logan Lauch, Team Faubush Hill; $545 raised
Princess of the Plunge — Brynlee Bigalow , Frosty Knights; $250 raised
Polar Cup Corporate/Civic Division — LakeCumberland.com; 9 members, $5,078 raised
Polar Cup School Division — Oakwood Frozen Eagles; 9 members, $1,950 raised
Top Fundraising Team — LakeCumberland.com; 9 members, $5,078 raised
