MEDFORD, Ore. — Air and water temperatures just above freezing brought shivers to hundreds throughout Southern Oregon’s community, but their reasons were anything but cold-hearted.
Roughly 300 folks — many in costumes, swim trunks or matching T-shirts — plunged into the Jackson Aquatic Center pool Saturday morning for the 10th annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Oregon. The 31 teams that dived in helped raise about $40,000, according to event manager Kim Andresen.
Nine of those 31 teams had never jumped before, according to Andresen. Each jumper raised a minimum of $50 for the Special Olympics chapter.
Among individual first-timers was Eagle Point High School math teacher Sunshine Perry, who along with science teacher Amanda Elliott wore costumes picked by students consisting of Hawaiian shirts, khaki trench coats and fedoras.
“I actually didn’t know I was jumping until yesterday,” Perry said with a brave face.
Andresen said the event also brought the return of Josephine County’s Sheriff’s Office and Grants Pass police for the first time in several years. Grants Pass’ new Director of Public Safety Warren Hensman was among the plungers.
The Southern Oregon Special Olympics chapter serves Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties, Andresen said. Klamath County participants, however, often hold their own above-ground plunge because roads are treacherous to the Medford event.
Also new this year was Southern Oregon University’s steel drum band Maraval Road, which added drumroll and some Caribbean fun to the polar poolside.
Experienced plungers said there’s no acclimating to the water, which was chilled further with bags of ice to about 37 degrees — a good five degrees colder than last year.
Sheriff Nate Sickler said he felt the 5-degree difference as he stood with a special Olympian Luis, who showed off medals for basketball and bowling.
