Brave people from all around the Quincy, Illinois area once a year participate in the Polar Plunge tradition. The Special Olympics Illinois are a celebration of bravery, togetherness, and the unbreakable human spirit. The Polar Plunge is a daring gesture to support the Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics Illinois movement has made the Polar Plunge—an occasion where people jump into freezing waters to raise money for charity—its a cornerstone fundraiser. It’s about more than just diving into frigid water—it’s about pushing boundaries, proving the value and shattering stereotypes.

The Polar Plunge took place at the Quincy University Football & Lacrosse Stadium on February 25 at 12 p.m. The Polar Plunges helps and supports around 21,000 Special Olympic athletes around Illinois by assisting in the delivery of programming that changes their lives. Law Enforcement Torch Run was the host this year of the Polar Plunge.

The Polar Plunge is the biggest annual fundraising event for Special Olympics Illinois. To take part in the dive, participants need to contribute at least $100. The QU sport management program has been working with Special Olympics Illinois for the past 16 years, and many are unaware that QU was created as a Special Olympics campus. QU has also been hosting the Polar Plunge for the past three years.

“I really enjoyed meeting so many different people who were so passionate about supporting an amazing cause. I truly believe everyone should give back to the Special Olympics organization at some point in their lifetime and I’m blessed to say I’ve gotten the opportunity to,” Avery Funk said.

Funk and Ross Huskey are students at QU who both participated in the Plunge. They are also involved in the Sport management class at QU and enjoyed working with the Special Olympics event February 25.

“I really enjoyed how many people were there to support such a great event! I also liked how much help we could be with the set up and making a special day for all of the Special Olympics athletes that were in attendance,” Huskey said.

The Polar Plunge is more than just a fundraising event for Special Olympics Illinois competitors with intellectual disabilities; it’s a representation of their tenacity and willpower. It’s a chance for individuals to step outside of their comfort zones, and demonstrate that they can succeed in the face of difficulty.

Without the iin-kind gifts and sponsorships from people and organizations that support the Special Olympics’ goals, the Polar Plunge would not be achievable. Money raised is used to fund projects and programs that enable athletes with intellectual disabilities to realize their greatest potential on and off the field.

“The Quincy Polar Plunge at QU was a huge success this year. We were able to raise more than $22,000 for Special Olympics Illinois thanks to the many amazing sports marketing students at QU who came out and volunteered. it is really a unique event because we have so may different types of Polar Plunge teams working together for a common cause! We had college, high school, and middle school teams, plus law enforcement and even corporations like Coca-Cola, Lowe’s and Bank of Springfield represented. The funds raised will go a long way in providing competitive sports opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities,” Tara Nickerson, Polar Plunge director, said.