Polar Bear Plunge set in January

Registrations are now being accepted for the fourth annual Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Arkansas Special Olympics.

Travis Chisom, Area IX director of Special Olympics, said this year’s plunge, “Freezin’ for a Reason,” is scheduled for Jan. 28 at Regional Park with registration beginning at 1 p.m. and the plunge itself at 2 p.m.

A new addition this year will be a 5K run/walk, with those funds also going to Special Olympics, and Chisom said details on that are still being worked out.

“When we started this, we hoped to develop a winter festival in Pine Bluff, based on the plunge,” Chisom said. “We’re going to try to expand every year.”

Awards will be presented to the individual and team that raises the most money, and has the best costumes.

There will be a $50 minimum donation for plunger, with each plunger receiving an official T-shirt. Donors contributing $250 will also receive an LED flashlight and bag. Those contributing $500 also will receive a large plush beach towel, while contributions of more than $1,000 will get an insulated picnic basket in addition to the other gifts offered.

Last year, there were 61 participants in the plunge, which generated $9,600, and Chisom said the goal for this year will be $15,000.

“If we get 90 to 100 plungers, that figure can easily be reached, particularly because of the walk/run,” Chisom said.

All of the funds raised go to Arkansas Special Olympics, with 30 percent of the total coming back to support programs in Area IX, which includes Pine Bluff and Jefferson County.

There are currently more than 13,000 athletes in the state training and competing in aquatics, track and field, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, powerlifting and other sports at the local, regional, state and international levels.