Special Olympics Utah hosts Polar Plunge fundraiser

The temperature outside may have been in the mid-teens, but that did not stop dozens of people from going for a swim.

Dipping toes into some cold water is just one of the many ways friends and families here demonstrate their unwavering support for Special Olympics Utah.

“Growing up, I really wanted to help create a more accepting and inclusive environment for people with different abilities, so Special Olympics means the world to me,” Special Olympics Utah Special Event Coordinator Haley Nall said.

Nall has a brother and cousin that live with intellectual disabilities. She joined the organization because she had witnessed the isolating effects living with disabilities can have.

“It mean compassion, it means love, it means caring, it means happiness, it means joy and inclusion. So yeah, we love supporting that here,” Nall said.

The Special Olympics Utah has been providing opportunities for people to develop skills and strength through sports for more than 50 years. The polar plunge is just one of many fundraising events, yet it remains a favorite among participants.

“Yeah, it was super fun out there in the freezing cold,” Polar Plunge participant CJ Haerter said.

From freezing cold to lukewarm, plungers were able to quickly thaw out in the facility’s hot tub.

All funds raised during the event go directly to support athletic training and competitions for the program’s participants.