Why would so many people decide to go jump in a lake?
The slogan for the annual Polar Plunge is "freezin' for a reason," and there is a lot of truth to that. It takes a great cause to motivate someone to jump in a pond of freezing cold water.
It also takes a little bit of insanity, judging from some of the costumes worn by the plungers. One team, the Polar Plungers, actually wore plungers on their heads. Another team, wearing togas, elicited a predictable chant of "toga, toga" from the crowd gathered at the Twin Lakes Recreation Center in Palatine Sunday for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge.
The cause is Special Olympics Illinois, and this plunge is one of 18 being held throughout the state between Feb. 27 and March 21. Plungers raise a minimum of $75 to support local Special Olympics programs. This particular plunge benefited Special Olympics Illinois' Northwest Suburban Area 18.
The team names reflected the chilly weather greeting the event: "Brrrrr We Go Again," "Cold as Ice." One name seemed particularly apt: "Bad Ideas."
However, some of the plungers, like Lisa McGuinn, 20, of Arlington Heights, who wore a purple mask and Mardi Gras beads along with a bathing suit that left her vulnerable to the freezing temperatures, seemed positively unaffected by the weather.
"I'm actually feeling fine," she said before the plunge.
Her friend, Cheryl Geniesse, 20, of Buffalo Grove, who sported a headdress with purple and pink feathers and sequins, along with a bikini, said she had already done this three years in a row.
"It's cold," she acknowledged, but added, "When you leave (the water) it's the wind that's the worst. I have never gotten sick, never gotten anything."
Geniesse is a Special Olympics gymnastics coach, working with the NWSRA team at the Palatine Community Center. Her brother and dad also took part.
One team of old friends from Schaumburg High School, the aforementioned Bad Ideas, showed it was ready for St. Patrick's Day, wearing green wigs and ties. One of them, Dave Krok," said: "Once you get dressed for the plunge, it's too late to start worrying."
His buddy Tim Mathews of Mount Prospect said of the experience, "You run out very quickly. Your breath gets sucked out of you. Your chest collapses. You can't breathe. You panic. But then you go out for chili and beer and you're all good."
Maybe it was wasn't such a bad idea for the team to participate, since it raised nearly $1,800.
Local police teams included Ice Cops, representing the Arlington Heights police. Detective Pete Hamrick said the weather was actually warmer last year, but added, "I liked that it was colder out. It was more of a challenge."
Some entering the warming tent after the plunge were shivering, one remarking that he tried his best not to swear.
Buffalo Grove Police Chief Steve Balinski said you have to be insane to participate but added it's for a great cause. Balinski, who was watching but will participate at another event, said he has been doing it for 10 years. The lowest temperature was 8 degrees. Last year, Buffalo Grove police raised $40,000.
Erin Newport of Palatine even carried her 5-year-old daughter Hannah in with her. When asked how she felt, Hannah said somewhat shakily, "Good." Her mother said, "She loves it," adding, "She has raised over $500."
Ethan Bontly, Special Olympics Area 18 director, said more than 300 people participated in Sunday's event, with 287 having preregistered. Last year, $51,000 was raised, he said. By Sunday morning, $54,000 had already been raised. The money pays for tournaments, with funds underwriting the cost of transportation, hotels and grants.