Bowie High Students Take the Plunge for Special Olympics

The students were able to raise more than $6,000 for the Special Olympics of Maryland.

Save the Date for 2013 Polar Bear Plunge

The 17th annual plunge where participants run into the chilly Chesapeake Bay will take place on Jan. 26, 2013, at Sandy Point State Park.

  Before you know it, 2013 will be here and so will the annual Maryland State Police (MSP) Polar Bear Plunge. Each year, thousands take a quick dip in the Chesapeake Bay to raise funds for Special Olympics Maryland. The Plungefest, which is open to the public, is set for Jan. 26, 2013, at Sandy Point State Park. Frigid Friday for participating schools will take place the day before the Plungefest. To participate in the plunge, you must collect a minimum of $50 in pledges—and if you're younger than 18, you must have a parent or guardian's written consent. It's still early but more than $200,000 has already been raised for Special Olympics Maryland to date, according to the event's website that also has a running countdown until the event. …

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Bowie Residents To Take the Plunge

The 16th annual Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge will take place on Jan. 28 in Annapolis.

What makes someone want to plunge into the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay in January?  Thousands are expected to take part in the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge on Jan. 28 at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. In fact, organizers are expecting to exceed last year’s total of 12,000 participants. Eleanor Hansen of Bowie has a personal reason for taking part in the event that supports Special Olympics Maryland. "I plunge because I have a brother with Down syndrome and I want to give back to an organization that supports and promotes these wonderful athletes, as they did for my brother many years ago," Hansen wrote in an email. Hansen will be taking her eighth plunge this year. This is the third yearshe's plunged with a team from …

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Students Take the Frigid Friday Plunge

Second annual event brings out thousands for the Maryland Special Olympics.

Thousands of students from across the state traveled to Sandy Point State Park on Friday [Jan. 28] to do something really “cool” for Special Olympics. The event was the Frigid Friday Plunge, an official partner activity with the Maryland Special Olympics’ Plungefest, which allows schools to bring teams of students to a smaller, more manageable event. The official 2011 Polar Bear Plunge takes place on Saturday at Sandy Point. Despite the chilly, snowy weather, the spirits of the teen participants and their parents, teachers and coaches were not dampened and all were excited to spend the day together representing their schools. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to jump in this cold water,” said a very pumped-up Broadneck High School student…

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