SAUGUS — For residents seeking a fun activity to do this weekend that supports a good cause, the town held its first polar plunge to fundraise for the Special Olympics Sunday afternoon.
Community members came out to show their support for the inaugural plunge wearing onesies, skin suits, tutus, and every costume imaginable. They were all ready to brave the cold to give back.
Those who didn’t want to take the leap had the opportunity to sign up as towel holders.
The event was hosted by Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Massachusetts, the Saugus Police Department, and the Saugus Fire Department.
Det. Stacey Forni of the police department helped get the event up and running, and has continually worked with the Special Olympics over the years.
“The most important part (of this event) is giving back to the Special Olympics. I volunteer, along with Sgt. Murphy, and we go to the Special Olympics that they hold at Harvard Stadium. We get to see what all of the money goes towards and how much effort and how much time and energy is put into it,” Forni said.
Seeing all of the work that gets put into creating such an event, inspired Forni to kick something off in town. “That’s why I wanted to do this event and bring it to Saugus so that we could give a piece of that back,” she said.
Forni hopes that the event will be annual so that the town can continue to support the Special Olympics.
Unlike the plunges for Nahant, Marblehead, and Lynn, a pool was brought in, provided by the Special Olympics for people to plunge into. There’s a very specific reason Forni and those involved decided to do this instead.
“We wanted to hold this even in Saugus. We could have probably held it in Breakheart…I’ve jumped into the pool before though. I’ve gone to other plunges like this and I was like, let’s do that. Let’s find a good location and do it for the first time like that,” Forni said.
Four teams were put together for the plunge including police, fire, Armstrong Ambulance, and the Tiger Institute Tae Kwon Do.
“I’d like to see more and more people jump in with us and join us in Saugus and create their own team…I’m hoping that we can get more teams and make it more competitive. I wanted to make this a community evert with Saugus to get first responders as well as other people and businesses in town together to do something good,” Forni said.
Amy Amirault, the owner and chief instructor at Tiger Institute of Tae Kwon Do, was also excited to be involved in the event. Amirault was captaining the team in their plunge.
“IT’s great for the community. I have a family member myself who grew up doing Special Olympics. I had an aunt who had Down Syndrome, and it was just so important for her to be included in sports and activities,” Amirault said.
She explained that these types of events make it possible for everyone to participate no matter what.
“I think this needs more visibility and it needs support everywhere. We just have to keep going as long as we can and make these things accessible and make people aware that this is a thing. A lot of people don’t know about the Special Olymimpics and the things that they do,” she said.
Amirault added that if these events continue to push and stay visible, more people could get involved.
“It’s a great spirited activity. It’s just a unique way to raise money for the Special Olympics,” she said.
When signing up online for the event there was an opportunity to make a donation for the cause with the website saying, “The Polar Plunge is about more than just a good time. By fundraising $100 or more, you are empowering over 14,000 Special Olympics athletes in Massachusetts to train and compete in the sports they love, sponsoring lifelong friendships and competitive spirits, and celebrating inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities on and off the playing field.”
The Saugus plunge had a goal to raise $7,000. In the end, they smashed their goal by raising $9,225 online.
