Suburban police, friends jump in lake for charity

The Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge ranks right up there with Relay For Life and other fundraising race staples.

Sunday, at Twin Lakes in Palatine, its appeal was evident as more than 300 participants formed a shivering queue and waited to plunge into freezing water to raise money for Special Olympics.

The event was one of 20 held statewide between Feb. 25 to March 24. Last year, more than $1.4 million was raised by more than 5,752 plungers, and in 13 years, $6 million has been raised by more than 22,100 plungers. At last year's event in Palatine, 350 plungers raised $108,000.

Dan Conley, director of Special Olympics Area 18, which covers north suburban Cook County, said the money raised goes to pay for facilities, equipment, awards, lunches and everything needed to run competitions throughout the year.

“It's a unique event,” he said, adding that everyone looks forward to the beginning of March as the “time to take the plunge.”

Plus, the event has a built-in fundraising hook.

“It's easy to get somebody to support you when you say you're going to jump in the lake,” Conley said.

With temperatures in the twenties at the time of the first dive, one might easily expect some pre-plunge remorse. Not so with Conley, who was taking the plunge for the 11th year,

“It's good Polar Plunge weather,” Conley said. “This is perfect, in my mind. The worst part is waiting to get into the water.” Once in, however, “You're in and out and then you're in a heated tent drying off.”

As if anyone needed further confirmation that you need to be a little crazy to jump in a freezing lake, several of the plungers donned unusual costumes.

Anita Fischer, a Chicago resident and special education teacher in Des Plaines, was plunging with a team called The Monkees, wearing the team's brown sweatsuit replete with a monkey head and banana.

Unlike other teams' outfits, this one left the skin covered.

“What's nice is we wear our bathing suits underneath, so we can take it all off real quick before we even go into the changing tent, and then we are good to go,” Fischer said.

Another team, representing Schaumburg's Zurich North America, had a couple of women dressed as Olive Oyl and one man as Popeye.

Ryan Kraus, who wore the Popeye costume, hails from Tampa, Fla. “I took a really wrong left turn,” he said.

Kraus was roped in to doing the plunge by his cousin, Jacqueline Scafidi from Villa Park, who works for Zurich North America.

“This was on my bucket list,” Scafidi said of her first plunge.

As the crowd waited for the festivities to begin, Kristin Williams, of Schaumburg, a member of the team called, “Who Wears Short Shorts?” said she was actually pretty warm.

“I'm dreading the water,” she added. “And the running into the water without turning back.”

Once in, though, the plungers gave the water mixed reviews for chilliness.

Bob Conigilo, of the Arlington Heights Police Department, emerging from his plunge and said, “Not so bad. All good.”

But Zach Pugh of the Glendale Heights Police Department, whose team raised more than $1,500, said it was colder than last year.

“The first two years, we actually cut a hole in the ice but it still seemed warmer underneath,” he said. “It's a good program, especially with the athletes and the unconditional love. They always appreciate what we are doing. Going down to the Summer Games, when they see the police car, they come up and give me a hug. They remember me every year. When it comes to a charity, it's the charity of choice for law enforcement.”