When Gary Gonczy dashes into the Black River in Onalaska March 7, he’ll have more than just images of blanket cocoons and hot chocolate to distract himself from the water’s icy grip—he’ll go in thinking about the money he, and thousands of others across Wisconsin, raised for the 2009 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Wisconsin.
“It’s a great cause,” Gonczy, who helped to bring the event to Onalaska, said. “These athletes mean a lot to me.”
Special Olympics Wisconsin provides cognitively disabled adults and children with the opportunity to learn sport skills and compete, as well as improve physical fitness and self confidence. A total of 6228 participants raised over $1.1 million for the organization in 2008. The event has raised a total of $7 million since its birth in 1999.
Register online or on-site to take the plunge at one of the event’s 11 locales around the state between now and March 7. Those who want to stay dry can register under the “too chicken to plunge” category and still donate pledges. Individuals can form teams as part of a business, organization, or any other collective identity, and compete for team fund raising bragging rights. Gonczy is currently the leading online fundraiser for this year, having raised $3,581 out of his goal of $10,000, as of Feb. 10.