CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – With the outside temperature sitting at around 24 degrees, close to 75 brave souls took a dip in the chilly 42-degree water of the pool at the Foy Fitness and Recreation Center at Austin Peay State University on Saturday.

The Special Olympics Tennessee 2022 Polar Plunge, also known as Freezin’ for a Reason, raised close to $19,000 for the nonprofit organization.

Amy Parker with Special Olympics said the goal was $10,000, and one of the local participants, Clarksville Police Capt. Liane Wilson, who has been getting wet and cold since 2019, was able to reach that goal on her own with her fundraising efforts.

Wilson also was recognized for another honor. “We do 10 Polar Plunges every year in February, and we have been doing them for decades. Captain Wilson is single-handedly the largest individual fundraiser that we have ever had for a Polar Plunge, for any year in any location across the state,” Parker said.

Austin Peay lifeguards get ready to jump in the pool at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
A participant in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Jennifer McAfee and Amy Parker with Special Olympics Tennessee Austin Peay lifeguards at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Kirsten Licari and APSU President Michael Licari at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Participants at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
An APSU Foy pool lifeguard at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Children keeping warm at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Participants sign up to participate at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Participants at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Members of the APSU Campus Police at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Members and supporters of Montgomery County Recovery Court at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Austin Peay lifeguards at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Clarksville Police Officer Dylan Lawrence at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
One of the participants in costume at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Captain Liane Wilson, Amy Parker, and Jennifer McAfee at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
One of the participants in costume at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Clarksville Police Officer Dylan Lawrence being interviewed by Amy Parker at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Clarksville Police Department Public Information Officer, Scott Beaubien, at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Members and supporters of Montgomery County Recovery Court jump in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Members and supporters of Montgomery County Recovery Court in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
A costumed swimmer at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Members of the Clarksville Police Department get ready to jump in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Members of the Clarksville Police Department jump in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Members of the Clarksville Police Department in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Member of the APSU Campus Police along with APSU President Michael Licari get ready to jump in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Members of the APSU Campus Police along with APSU President Michael Licari get ready to jump in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Swimmers in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Swimmers in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Bill Persinger, with Austin Peay State University in the water at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Participants get ready to jump in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Swimmers in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Participants get ready to jump in the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Participants come out of the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Participants come out of the water at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Officer Chad Koyama with the Clarksville Police Department at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Special Olympics supporters receive T-Shirts at the Special Olympics Tennessee Polar Plunge at the APSU Foy pool, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Lee Erwin).

Wilson said she used to work for Progressive Directions Inc. and lived in a home with individuals who were unable to take car of themselves and for a short time served as a counselor in one of the organization’s centers.

“I love Special Olympic Athletes and they are near and dear to my heart,” Wilson said.

Some of the teams taking the plunge were members of the Clarksville Police Department, APSU Campus Police, and Montgomery County Recovery Court, along with other groups and individuals.

Special Olympics Tennessee has helped thousands of children and adults with intellectual disabilities realize their dreams through sports training and competition. Currently there are more than 18,000 Special Olympic athletes, supported by close to 6,000 volunteers, that are part of the Tennessee program.