About 200 expected to take the Polar Plunge this weekend

On Saturday, courageous men and women will brave cool weather and cooler water of Lake Boutin at the 10th annual Cape Girardeau Polar Plunge.

As in years past, people will gather in wild costumes, street clothes or few clothes at all to raise money for Special Olympics athletes in Southeast Missouri.

The theme of the event is “Be a Below-Zero Superhero,” so spectators can expect to see masked men and caped crusaders leaping into the chilly waters.

“It’s our biggest fundraiser we do for our local athletes,” said Penny Williams, Special Olympics regional development director. Special Olympics Missouri is a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Nearly 16,500 athletes participate in 21 Olympic-type sports throughout the state, according to the organization’s website.

“We service 1,100 of them,” Williams said.

“The best thing about the event is that every dollar raised stays with the athletes here in the Southeast Missouri area,” said Lt. Buddy Davis of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, who is chairman of the Polar Plunge.

Last year, 186 Polar Plunge participants raised over $35,000.

This year, the organization has 200 preregistered plungers, many of whom have spent weeks raising money for the organization. Their goal is to raise $45,000 for the local athletes.

Registration begins at noon, and plunging begins at 2 p.m. Walk-up registrations are welcome.

According to Williams, participants enter the water in waves of 10.

“Ten in, 10 out,” Williams said.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department provides divers for the event who will stay in the water until the last plunger has plunged. Afterward, the “below-zero superheroes” will run to a warming tent to recuperate. “We’re not totally ruthless,” Williams said.

When the event is over, participants can go to Isle Casino Cape Girardeau for a post-plunge party, which begins at 4 p.m., Williams said.

There, a ceremony will recognize the top fundraising people, groups and schools. “Golden Plunger” awards also will be handed out for the most creative costumes. State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, Ed Carroll of Banterra Bank and Kirby Ray of Real Rock 99.3 will judge the costumes.

“The weather’s going to be great on Saturday, and we want to encourage anyone who is contemplating plunging to sign up,” Williams said.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

Trail of Tears State Park, Cape Girardeau