CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Over 50 people took a leap of faith in the Polar Plunge-Freezin’ for a Reason at Austin Peay State University’s Foy Pool Saturday to benefit Special Olympics Tennessee.
The plunge was sponsored locally by the Clarksville Police Department and Austin Peay State University. Law enforcement personnel with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office and Austin Peay Campus Police also jumped into the water with temperatures hovering around the 50 degree mark.
The event, which is the first one locally in more than five years, raised over $10,000 and collected more than the last four Polar Plunges combined in Clarksville. The ‘most money raised’ honor went to Captain Liane Wilson with the Clarksville Police Department, who took in $1,511.
“The highlight for me is that one of our local athletes, Lee Giles, is wheelchair bound and members of the Clarksville Police Department literally assisted him in taking the Polar Plunge today by helping him get into and out of the pool,” Amy Parker, VP of Market & Development for Special Olympics Tennessee said.
Over 16,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities are registered as athletes with Special Olympics Tennessee with 17 different sports offered in the program.
