Brr: Cold and Snow Expected For Saturday Polar Plunge

By Todd Pittenger February 14, 2019

It will be a new venue on Saturday, but the result will be the same. A group of hearty volunteers will take a little dip in some icy water in an effort to raise big money for Kansas Special Olympics. The Salina Polar Plunge event to help support Kansas Special Olympics is this Saturday at GreatLIFE Golf and Fitness in Salina.

The 2019 Salina Polar Plunge, along with the icy dip, also includes a 5k and 1 mile run.

The forecast for Saturday is perfect for the Polar Plunge. Cloudy and cold, with slight chance for snow.

Salina Police Officer Dani Lemon is one of the organizers of the Polar Plunge. She tells KSAL News after holding the event for the last several years north of Salina at the Webster Conference Center they decided to do things a bit different this year and move into into town at GreatLIFE. She says with the event being in town hopefully they will attract more people to show up and watch.

Registration for the run, and plunge, begins at 8:30 on the day of the event. The run is at 9:30, awards are at 11:15, followed by the highlight of the day, the plunge into the freezing cold lake pool 11:45.

Each person who takes the plunge, or runs, is motivated by donations from friends and family. Many who take the plunge dress up in creative, colorful costumes. Participants are competing for awards which include:

  • Best Costume – individual and group – All Characters Welcome
  • Top Fundraising – individual and group
  • Team with Most Participants

Awards will be announced prior to the plunge.

Lemon says pre-registration for the plunge has been good. Among others, groups for Salina Central High School, Salina South High School, Salina South Middle School, Walmart, and the Salina Police Department have signed up as have multiple other individuals.

Chief David Turner and Rural Fire District #5 are providing a giant tank of icy water to dip into.

All proceeds from the Polar Plunge events go to help Kansas Special Olympics.

The public is invited to attend to watch, or to participate, in any or all of the events.

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Registration Information: http://www.plungeks.org/plunge/salina