Plunge into cold water helps Special Olympics

It’s still a long way from summer, but sturdy thrill seekers plan to jump into the icy waters of Lake Laverne at Iowa State University today. The 4th annual Polar Bear Plunge is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Iowa, where Chuck Reed is spokesman. Reed says hundreds of people are expected to take the plunge into the frigid water today at the center of I-S-U’s campus in Ames. He says the event raised nearly 20-thousand dollars last year for the Special Olympics and he would like to see that goal surpassed this year.Reed says many of the partying plungers dress in oddball costumes, a few of which are far too clearly etched in his brain. Registration begins at 5 p-m with the plungers hitting the water about 6. Special Olympics Iowa is the state’s largest year-round organization devoted to sports training and competition for children and adults with mental retardation.