Thank you for visiting my Polar Plunge fundraising page. I think most of you guys know it's that time of year again!! It is Super Plunge Time!! I am once again part of Team Crazy for Cole and we will be jumping into frigid Lake Michigan 24 times in 24 hours at the end of February!! Everyone asks the same questions… Yes it is cold, yes we really jump once every hour (as long as conditions are safe), and the question always comes up “why do you do it?” I do it every year to get a weekend away; it is kind of like going on a cruise. (I’ve never been, but I’ve heard stories) We always stay in luxurious accommodations with a view of the water, and the bathrooms are very small. We eat like kings and the variety is unbelievable! I can eat pizza once an hour every hour for 24 hours if I want (well until I get sick and have to go visit the very small bathroom). There is also tons of entertainment, card playing, video game tournaments, visits from celebrities etc. It really is a fabulous time!!!
I know I have enticed you to join our team!!! Now I suppose I should tell you the real reason I do it. It is a great time, it is like going away for a weekend with Dwayne and friends, and there is a ton of food! You will gain weight at this event!! I do it year after year despite my hate for the cold and minimal sleep for Cole and the other Special Olympics athletes of Illinois. Many of you know that Dwayne and I are the proud parents of two little boys. We have Owen who is 5 and is a spectacular little brother to Cole. Cole is 9 years old and was born with Down syndrome and later diagnosed at age 6 with Autism. He is non verbal, an extreme challenge and the one of the lights of our lives! Without Cole our life would be extremely boring and lacking adventure!!
Dwayne and I were introduced to Torch Run through Dwayne’s job as a police officer at the Joliet Police Department. Dwayne actually participated in his first single plunge while we were expecting Cole. Little did we know how this organization would impact our lives. Although the individuals that were on the Torch Run committee did not know Dwayne and I very well they were very supportive. Dwayne got involved in the fundraising aspect and I got to know the Special Olympics athletics aspect. We went to our first summer games when Cole was less than a year and just watching the athletes, coaches and families gave us hope for Cole’s future. It was no longer a scenario of what Cole would not be able to do it was look at what Cole would be able to one day do. These athletes had friends, they had fun and they had independence, all things I was not sure Cole would have. As we waited patiently for Cole to get bigger and be able to participate in Special Olympics along came the Young Athlete Program for the child under 8. It was a spring board for future athletes to learn basic skills, have fun, and interact with typical peers and peers with a disability. We were blessed with receiving a home kit and Cole loved it. It was actually the first time we got to see Cole and his brother play together in a typical way like all the kids in the neighborhood. For a brief time we saw brothers playing, and live was typical! Cole was even chosen with his Dad to light the cauldron to start the Summer Games, an unbelievable experience that still brings tears to Dwayne’s and my eyes when we watch video of it! It is pure pride for both of us!!
Cole is now 9 years old and is attending ElimChristianSchool. Although he is not participating in their sports teams yet, he is learning skills so that one day he can play. He enjoys putting a basketball in the basket and throwing a ball!! We are anticipating enrolling him in Joliet’s special rec. track and field program this year with hopes of him competing in the softball throw. Anyone that knows Cole, knows he has quite and arm and we just need to train it for good purposes, not throwing shoes!!
I am asking you once again to support my efforts in raising money for this organization that has provided me hope, support, and an outlet for Cole to throw!!! They truly are a great organization and the money goes to provide year round training and sports competition for 22,000 individuals like Cole that may never get an opportunity to play little league with the neighborhood kids or run track with his typical peers at a local high school.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to the LETR Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Illinois. If you would like to send a chck made out to Special Olympics Illinois, e-mail me at ildteacher@hotmail.com and I will send you my home address. Also feel free to e-mail me and I can let you know how to join our team!! We also have a small team going to do a single plunge during the first weekend in March if you are intersted in trying out a single plunge before committing to 24 plunges!!
Many thanks for your support – and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too! If you have any fundraising ideas please let me know, my goal is to at least raise $2,000.
Thank you so much to the following individuals for their off line donations :)
Mr. and Mrs. Curley $50.00
Ms. Barbra Wilcox $50.00
Ms. Maureen Plonis $50.00
Mike, Erin, Sarah, and Allison Benaitis $50.00