Eighteen members of the Palatine Jaycees jumped into Twin Lakes to support Special Olympics Illinois on Sunday, February 19. “It may be 60 degrees out today, but that water is still really cold!” said team co-captain, Ryan Rivard. The team more than doubled its fundraising goal of $1,000 and donated $2,155 to the cause. The Palatine Jaycees team ranked among the top 10 fundraising teams for the event.
“We’ve been participating in the Polar Plunge for a few years now,” said chapter president Sarah Harwerth-De Marco. “It’s a popular project among our members.”
Special Olympics Illinois works to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through sports and health programming. Polar Plunge Palatine is one of 22 fundraising events across the state, designed to raise money to support more than 42,000 athletes and providing them with training and competition opportunities in Olympic-type sports.
This year’s event attracted 372 registered participants and raised over $87,000. Twin Lakes Recreation Area was crowded with spectators and supporters under unseasonably blue skies. “It’s a beautiful day and a great cause!” said team co-captain, Chris Goeller. “We have a ‘superheroes’ theme this year, and there are some pretty awesome costumes. We’re having fun and doing something good, too.”