16 December 2018

"Freezin' for a Reason"

Jumpers brave the cold to raise funds for Special Olympics Alaska




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ANCHORAGE (KTUU) - The 10th Annual Special Olympics Alaska Polar Plunge drew thousands to Goose Lake in Anchorage Saturday as jumpers hopped into icy waters in the name of supporting SOA.
The endeavor is to help support the group's training and competitions throughout the year. This time around, there was the usual entertainment and other activities, along with a big goal: Raise $400,000 for Special Olympics athletes and their training and competitions.
By mid-day, hundreds of jumpers had already raised more than half the goal. More than 700 Alaskans braved cold waters throughout the day, "Freezin' for a Reason," including Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Watch the full story from Channel 2 photojournalist Mike Nederbrock below.


7 comments:

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

Noble cause. God bless them all. I might try this - once.

Rev. Paul said...

I personally think that most folks should do it, just the once. It would make an awesome story to share, and an awesome memory. It's fun.

ProudHillbilly said...

No. Just no.

Two stories: 1) One of my favorite radio commentators never knew what he'd come back to when he went off on vacation. He had a very mischievous partner who would volunteer Andy as a fund raiser without consulting with Andy first. One time it was to jump into a swimming pool (the above ground type) filled with pancake syrup at a local IHOP. Another time Andy came back to find that he had been volunteered to do a polar bear swim. I miss those guys...

2) NOAA has an unarmed naval service - the NOAA Corps - that does coastal mapping and research. One of their guys told me that one time they were up in the Gulf of Alaska in winter and they were diving. He just grabbed one of the dive suits that were hanging up and, neglecting to check it, just put it on and dove in. At which point he realized that the seam in the crotch had ripped out. He said he got back on the boat just as fast as he got off...

Rev. Paul said...

PH, that story about the NOAA Corps "diver" had me laughing out loud. :)

Ed Bonderenka said...

And here I thought you meant Salvation Army bell-ringers...

Rev. Paul said...

Only because some wish the bells would go away, Ed. But not this time.

LindaG said...

Afraid I couldn't do that for the same reason we could not move back to Alaska permanently. Too cold!

But God bless everyone who did! :)