“Freezin’ for a reason!” declared Special Olympics athlete Josh Norris to the crowd of hot dogs, blue-faced Highlanders, professional wrestlers, aliens and angels before handing the microphone to meteorologist Edward Shaw, the master of ceremonies for Valentine’s Day’s festive Polar Plunge at Bisset Park in Radford.
The reason over 300 people jumped into the 38-degree, opaque water of the New River was to raise money for Special Olympics Virginia, which hosts 2,000 athletic events a year for people of all ages, regardless of ability or disability, at no cost to the participants.
Surrounded by his grandchildren, a cherubim smiled. His fire engine red wings gleamed in the chilly sun, and the heart-embossed gold embellishments of his white tunic popped under the blue sky. This cheerful guardian of Eden, James Coleman, had driven five hours from Tappahannock, Virginia, to take the plunge in honor of Special Olympics athlete Joey Wheeler.
“Cold! Very cold! Now I really feel like somebody,” Coleman exclaimed after his dip. At this point he was wingless, having handed off his wings to a bare-chested, college-aged fellow laughing in the plunge line with a group of friends.
The line to plunge stretched the length of the cement boat ramp of Dudley’s landing. The kind of hype music you’d hear at a professional hockey game blared from the DJ’s tent. The air was rich with popcorn, hot dogs and a hint of wet golden retriever. Folks who had exuberantly danced the “Cupid Shuffle” a few moments earlier, tossing their arms in the air and bopping their hips with abandon, now craned their necks to get a glimpse of how the plungers ahead of them reacted to the olive green water.
Clusters of three to six people at a time waded about 12 feet into the river where a semi-circle of water rescuers in black wetsuits and fluorescent yellow vests gave out high-fives. Some plungers laughed, some shrieked, some gritted their teeth in silence. Mayor David Horton jogged in and out in aviator sunglasses and navy blue, star-spangled swim trunks. Most people were in the water for less than 10 seconds. Only a few dunked their heads under.
“Kilts were the way to go!” said Matt Adamo in a “Braveheart” costume and blue face paint. His plunge group — Special Olympics Area 9 of the New River Valley — won the costume contest.
This year’s Polar Plunge had 376 registrants who raised a combined total of $76,000. The fundraising goal had been $108,000. Three consecutive weekends of winter storms may have dampered participation, according to Katelynn Howell, senior director of development of Special Olympics Virginia.
Like Howell, this reporter was wearing a parka, winter beanie and insulated boots.
When Adamo shouted “Freedom!” “Braveheart”-style during the costume parade, “freeze-dom” came to mind. But what stayed in mind hours after the event was not the cold or the sparkly wings — it was the Special Olympics oath, an oath the crowd recited clearly and loudly twice before the plunge:
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
Online donations are still open.
