CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Saturday was a sunny day with the temperature around 42 degrees at 11 a.m., and the water temperature was around 40 degrees as more than 40 brave souls jumped in the water at Sango Pool & Spa to raise funds for Special Olympics Tennessee.

It was the annual Polar Plunge, also known as Freezin’ for a Reason, supporting Special Olympics Tennessee.

Law Enforcement Torch Run Director for Special Olympics Jennifer McAfee said the Polar Plunge is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year, so they’re kicking off 2023 with fundraising for the more than 18,000 Special Olympic athletes in Tennessee.

Members of the Clarksville Police Department and the Austin Peay State University Campus Police also participated to get wet and cold.

Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A supporter of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Fraternal Order of Police Two Rivers Lodge, Trail Life Troop Tennessee 101, supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Members of the APSU Campus Police and supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee at the costume contest getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Members of the Clarksville Police Department. supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville Police Department, supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
APSU Campus Police, supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Supporters of Special Olympics Tennessee getting cold and wet at the Polar Plunge -Freezin’ for a Reason fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

The event also featured a costume contest with plungers dressing up to jump in the water. The individual costume winner was Clarksville Police Officer Dylan Lawrence, who dressed up in full gear as a hockey player, and the team costume winners were decked out in ’80s Richard Simmons outfits. The top individual fundraiser for the event was District 14 Montgomery County Commissioner Joshua Beal, and the top fundraising team was Austin Peay Campus Police.

 

For more events like this, check out the Winter Fun Guide or visit the Clarksville Now events page.