HELENA — The deadline to submit your videos for this year’s virtual Sweetheart Polar Plunge has been extended to February 21st.
The Sweetheart Passion Plunge traditionally does not look like what is shown in the pictures above. The event is typically held at Spring Meadow Lake State Park, but due to the pandemic, the event has gone virtual. This means community members are encouraged to jump on their own.
"It's still something that needs to be supported,” says Cara White, the President of the Special Olympics Club at Carroll College. “Just because COVID is happening, we can't just toss everything to the side. This is still actively going on, COVID or not, and we still wanted to do this and raise the money because we can. "
The Special Olympics Club at Carroll College had five of their members participate in this plunge. The club states they’ve surpassed their fundraising goal of $500.
"I have a cousin who has autism. So, causes like these are very personal to me,” says Dawson Zebarth, a club member. “I feel like it's crucial for me to do something about it even though it is virtual. So, I'm excited that we can still do it this year."
In total, the Sweetheart Plunge has raised nearly $6,000 as of Sunday morning, February 7th. Their goal is $36,000. As one sponsor says, it is still not too late to donate.
"This is actually my 11th year being involved with the Sweetheart Passion Plunge and I just needed to continue that on. Everybody is going to be freezing for a reason," says Dani McDonald, the Director of Marketing at Kenny Simpson Nissan in Helena. Helena Nissan also had five members participate.
The video with all the plunges is scheduled to be released on February 28th, 2021.
For more information on how to participate and donate, click here.
