Congratulations to the more than 600 brave souls who took part in the 10th annual Town of North Hempstead Polar Plunge.
Together they raised $85,000 for the Special Olympics by jumping into the ice-cold water.
The goal of the Special Olympics, which was created by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of President John F. Kennedy, in 1968, is to provide year-round athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities such as retardation and autism. The Olympics helps participants experience joy and self-pride while developing physical fitness and demonstrating courage.
It has become a meaningful event for the participants and their families. And it is an enduring remnant of Camelot.
Today the Special Olympics is an international program that reaches out to the more than 200 million people with intellectual disabilities around the world. If you have never attended one of the Special Olympics events held in the New York area, we suggest you do. It’s an experience that you will never forget.
As for the men, women, and children who jumped into the frigid waters in one of the coldest winters in memory, you are all heroes. You not only raised a ton of money, you helped to raise awareness of a very worthwhile cause.
The North Hempstead Polar Plunge was created by in 2005 by former Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, who told our reporter, “I can’t think of a better reason to brave the cold than to support the Special Olympics New York and all of their wonderful athletes.”
Town Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, who took the plunge with her colleague Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio, promised to participate if she raised $2,500. She raised more than $3,000.
We salute everyone who is still thawing out from this bone-chilling event and those who made donations to the cause. And we thank all of the volunteers who work year-round to organize Special Olympic events that mean so much to people facing difficult challenges.
