Teams and volunteers will gather at Searcy\u2019s annual Polar Bear Plunge at the Days Inn hotel in Searcy on Saturday, Feb. 24. Participants will jump into the cold water of the hotel pool to raise money and awareness for the Arkansas Special Olympics team.<\/p>\n
According to Special Olympics Arkansas, the funds from the Polar Plunge will assist their program in \u201c(making) a difference in the lives of Special Olympics Arkansas athletes and increase their level of social responsibility and community involvement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Special education professor Lisa Bryant is Harding\u2019s coordinator for Polar Plunge. She said there are more teams involved in this year\u2019s event than ever before.<\/p>\n
Bryant said Harding teams participating include several social clubs, Harding\u2019s Cannon-Clary College of Education with S.A.L.T. (Scholars Advancing Learning and Teaching) and the football team.<\/p>\n
Senior special education major and co-president of S.A.L.T., Natalie Frederick, said S.A.L.T. formed a goal of $500 from their bake sale to have Dr. Bruce McLarty jump into the Benson fountain. They raised over $700 for their Polar Plunge team.<\/p>\n
Frederick said when their team jumps at the Polar Plunge, they are called to jump together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we\u2019re jumping, we think about how fun it is,\u201d Frederick said. \u201cThen we think how cold the water is, then how we would do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Junior special education major and co-president of S.A.L.T., Mills Bryant, said Special Olympics participants attend the Polar Plunge to cheer for the teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe event is about giving others the chance to be rewarded like we are every day,\u201d Mills Bryant said. \u201cIt\u2019s bigger than us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frederick said the Special Olympics allows people with special needs to be the \u201cstars and MVPs\u201d of the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost kids growing up play soccer, but they didn\u2019t get to do that,\u201d Frederick said. \u201cIt gives them a chance to do something we take advantage of.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lisa Bryant said she has participated in the Polar Plunge so many times that it is part of her \u201ccore beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is about giving people with special needs the chance to not be left out,\u201d Lisa Bryant said. \u201cIf you\u2019ve ever been (to the Special Olympics) and heard them cheering you on, it makes it easy to jump.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Polar Bear Plunge will accept participants up until the event. The cost is $50 and includes a T-shirt. For more information, contact Lisa Bryant at lbryant1@harding.edu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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