Across the state, thousands of warm-hearted leaped into frozen bodies of water to support the 10,000 athletes of Special Olympics Wisconsin by taking part in the 2011 Polar Plunge® winter fundraiser. Since 1999, nearly 70,000 brave souls have raised more than $12 million by jumping into Wisconsin’s frigid lakes and rivers, enabling athletes with cognitive disabilities to train and compete in 18 different Olympic-type sports.

Polar Plunge teams neared the edge of freezing waters and in a matter of seconds they leaped, screamed, and cannon-balled into the water. Some individuals raised $75. Others raised $9,000 to take the Plunge. But they all shared the same excitement as they frantically exited the water and dashed toward the comfort of hot tubs or heated tents.

The season kicked off in Wisconsin Rapids at the Grand Rapids Lions Club on February 5th with 265 plungers raising $45,000. On February 12th, 100 Plungers raised approximately $23,000 in Menomonie at Elk Point Resort and on February 13th, a total of 361 Plungers raised approximately $96,000 at Muskego County Park.

Three Plunges were held on February 19th in Madison, Oshkosh, and Whitewater. Madison welcomed 2,176 Plungers and a record $500,000 raised at Olin Turville Park. This year in Oshkosh at Menominee Park, 1,875 Plungers raised $430,000 for area athletes. Whitewater’s fourth annual Plunge, held in conjunction with the City of Whitewater’s Freeze Fest at Cravath Lakefront Park, drew in 345 participants and raised over $53,000.

Sunnyvale Man Made Park in Wausau also had a successful Plunge on February 26th with a record 600 Plungers raising approximately $112,000. The same day at the Watering Hole in Green Bay, approximately 865 Plungers raised more than $182,000. A total of 400 participants plunged into Lake Andrea at the Rec Plex in Pleasant Prairie, also on February 26th raising over $93,000. On Sunday, February 27th the Eau Claire Polar Plunge at Half Moon Beach in Carson Park set a new record with 1,018 Plungers raising an estimated $156,000.

The last Plunges of the season wrapped up on March 5th at Pettibone Beach in La Crosse and Milwaukee's Lake Michigan. The Coulee Region Polar Plunge saw over 1,000 Plungers and raised approximately $165,000. The Milwaukee Plunge location moved to McKinley Marina where approximately 305 Plungers raised an estimated $70,000 and brought the Wisconsin state total over $1.9 million.

Special Olympics Wisconsin and the Law Enforcement Torch Run® send a warm thank you to all who coordinated, pledged, and plunged and to Kwik Trip, the Tavern League of Wisconsin and Fox Sports Wisconsin for their strong support as statewide Plunge Partners.

Learn more about the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Wisconsin and view photos.