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Freezin’ For Reason Ride for Special Olympics...
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Freezin’ For Reason Ride for Special Olympics Missouri in Lee's Summit
January 19, 2013
"BigHeadWilson" Team
Group Photo at Longview Beach
Tribune Photo/Matthew Taylor
click to enlarge >>>
By Wendy Hayworth
intern@lstribune.net
The third annual Freezin’ for a Reason ride was a huge success. With 35 motorcycles, 50 jeeps, more than 25 other vehicles, and 48 items auctioned off: an estimated $16,000 was raised for the Super Plunge and Special Olympics Missouri.
The Super Plunge is a challenge for extreme fans of the Special Olympics. Participants brave the frigid waters every hour on the hour for 24 hours from January 25th to the 26th.
One of these extreme fans is Captain Brian “Bighead” Wilson of the Lee’s Summit Police Department. He created the Freezin’ for a Reason ride to help raise money for Special Olympics. This will be his fifth year participating in the super plunge.
Wilson was the top fundraiser of 2012 for the Special Olympics and has raised over $24,000 towards his goal of $35,000 this year.
The Lee’s Summit Police Department has chosen Special Olympics as their charity of choice and participates in many fundraising event throughout the year.
“The law enforcement’s main effort is to raise money and awareness for the special olympics,” Wilson said.
There is another opportunity for supporters of Special Olympics to show their support without taking 24 dips into the freezing water of Longview Lake.
The Polar Bear Plunge is another event created to raise money for Special Olympics.
“It takes on a life of its own,” Polar Bear Plunge Participant, Officer Mark Wiesemann, said.
Wiesemann has been a part of the Polar Bear Plunge since its creation 9 years ago.
“You see people doing the same crazy thing that you’re doing and it’s like an instant bond with them,” Wiesemann said.
Also involved with the Polar Bear Plunge is Lee’s Summit High School and Pleasant Lea Elementary. Together they have formed a top ranked team called “Tigers on Ice”.
More than 80 students and staff will brave the waters to raise money for the athletes of Special Olympics.
So far, over $6,000 has been raised by Tigers on Ice and more is coming in every day.
“I’m kind of dreading the cold dip into Longview, but at the same time I’m exhilarated by the thought of it,” Lee’s Summit High School senior, Jordan Spatz, said.
Money can still be donated to participants of the Polar Bear Plunge until the 25th at http://somo.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1036719 and the Super Plunge until the 24th at http://somo.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1036879
“It’s knowing that it’s all going to the athletes,” Wiesemann said.
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