Typically jumping into ice water is something to avoid but for five RBHS staff members and a handful of Key Club members jumping into ice water is something they are embracing.
The RBHS Key Club is raising money by placing jars for donations in the classrooms of Maggie Ford, Bruce Wilson, Austin Reed, Megan Halphin and Greg Nagel and which ever teacher collects the most money will participate in the Polar Plunge held Feb. 21 at Bass Pro Lake to benefit Special Olympics.
“Polar Plunge is a fundraiser for Special Olympics where we jump in Stevens Lake, no matter how cold it is,” junior Ronni Farid said. “I went last year and it was terribly cold, it was really cool, there were so many people dressed up in different costumes and they were all willing to raise money for Special Olympics and it was a cool atmosphere. Its not like people are preparing to jump in freezing water but they’re there to raise money.”
Senior mentor Tricia Hill sees the competition as a good way to bolster community at RBHS and plans to have her advisory donate to the competition.
“Maybe if we talk about it as a class and like vote on who we want to donate to and then as a class all donate to the majority vote,” Hill said. “So it would be a good bonding experience and also for a good clause.”
For Nagel jumping into the cold water is daunting but worth it.
“Ronni Farid came to my class, she’s in my sports medicine class, and she came in and she asked if I would be interested in raising some funds for special Olympics and oh by the way you might take a frozen swim if you win,” Nagel said. “And I was like awesome, you know for special Olympics great not so excited about an icy swim but the cause, I can’t think of a better cause.”
By Graham Ratermann
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