Following on the heels of the amazing success of the Inaugural Paducah Big Brown Truck Pull in 2009, there was every reason to believe that a second locally produced, locally driven fundraising event in Western Kentucky could be just as successful in the winter time. And through the hard work of Marshall County Special Olympics Local Coordinators Brian and Melissa Collier and many other volunteers, the Western Kentucky Polar Plunge was just that kind of success when it hit the water at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park on Saturday, Feb. 20.
In one of the most successful Plunge debuts since that first Polar Plunge in Louisville in 1999, 174 Polar Bears took part in the event, raising nearly $30,000 to support Special Olympics programs.
Shawn Smee led all fundraisers at the event and was named King of the Polar Plunge (Top Male Fundraiser), raising $1,279. The Queen of the Plunge was Trinity Campbell who raised $1,100.53. They were joined as Plunge Royalty by Prince of the Plunge (Top Male Fundraiser 6-12 years old) John Smetana, who raised $661 and Princess of the Plunge Sarah McDowell, who raised $737.
The Marshall County Frozen Marshalls, representing Marshall County High School and Marshall County Special Olympics, won the award as the Top Fundraising team, putting together $9,014.32 in donations. They were also the Polar Cup winner as the largest team in the Fraternity/Sorority/School Division with 54 team members taking the Plunge. They were joined as Polar Cup winners by the team from Murray/Calloway County Special Olympics in the Corporate Civic Division. The Murray/Calloway County County group had 11 team members who raised $3,683.77. The final Polar Cup went to the Ice Troopers in the Law Enforcement Division, who had four team members raise $1,140.
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Our thanks to everyone who made the first Western Kentucky Polar Plunge such a tremendous success, especially all of the volunteers who helped plan, organize and operate the event and to all the participants who came out to take part in the Plunge. We also want to thank event sponsors, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Torch Run and AAA Travel, which provided a Caribbean Cruise for two on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines to one lucky Polar Bear.
For more information about how you or your company can be involved in the 2011 Polar Bear Plunge as a sponsor or as participants, contact Special Olympics Kentucky Special Events Director Candace Thompson at 800-633-7403 or 502-326-5002 or via e-mail at cthompson@soky.org.
The Kentucky-Ohio Polar Bear Plunge is one of six Plunges in Kentucky in 2010, with events held in Lake Cumberland, Lexington, Louisville, Newport, Owensboro and Western Kentucky. The six events saw a record 2,480 people take the Plunge, raising more than $618,000 for Special Olympics.
King of the Plunge — Shawn Smee , $1,279 raised
Queen of the Plunge — Trinity Campbell , $1,100.53 raised
Prince of the Plunge — John Smetana , $661 raised
Princess of the Plunge — Sarah McDowell , $737 raised
Polar Cup Corporate/Civic Division — Murray/Calloway County Special Olympics; 11 members, $3,683.77 raised
Polar Cup School Division — Marshall County Frozen Marshalls; 54 members, $9,014.32 raised
Polar Cup Law Enforcement Division — Ice Troopers; 4 members, $1,140 raised
Top Fundraising Team — Marshall County Frozen Marshalls; 54 members, $9,014.32 raised
