Mesquite Polar Plunge Supports Special Olympics

By WESLIE STRATTON

Moapa Valley Progress

A chilly event was made even colder with sprinkling rain and low hanging clouds at the second annual Mesquite Polar Plunge on Saturday, Feb. 2.

Participants paid $125 in support of Special Olympics for the opportunity to jump in the unheated outdoor pool at the Mesquite Recreation Center.

Many dressed up to compete for costume awards prior to jumping in the pool. Several officers from the Mesquite Police Department made the plunge along with their kids.

Those who attended also enjoyed lunch prepared by the Mesquite Fire Department.
Special Olympics Area Director Debbie Dorn was pleased by the generosity of local businesses who made donations.
“Our local businesses donated all of our raffle prizes,” she said. “We had a ton. We had a bunch of businesses step forward.”

Dorn said that participants had the option to pledge either as a plunger to jump in the pool, or as a chicken to make a monetary donation and watch the event from the sidelines. Either way she said that all donations are used to help local athletes in the Special Olympics.

“By holding this it allows our local athletes to participate in Summer Games and it pays for our travel to Reno,” Dorn said, adding that it pays for dorm rooms as well.
“We had an athlete attend the USA games in Washington,” Dorn said. “It helps the cost of that.”

Dorn said that this event was the first polar plunge of Nevada and that the organization encourages participation from all over.
“It’s really rewarding,” she said of the event. “It’s so much fun.”