Sporting hula outfits, Marlborough High School’s Best Buddies advisors Jennifer Bousquet and Sue Charpentier jump from a truck parked next to a swimming pool. (Photo/Ed Karvoski Jr.)
MARLBOROUGH – Individuals and teams appreciated mild temperatures on March 6 during the sixth in-person Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA).
They dove from a truck into a swimming pool stationed outside the Yawkey Sports Training Center in Marlborough, the SOMA headquarters.
Last year’s Polar Plunge took place virtually statewide.
Marlborough Police Officer Andy LaRose welcomed this year’s plungers and volunteers. He has organized this fundraiser locally since 2016. LaRose has also organized the Marlborough Police Department’s Motorcycle Ride as a SOMA fundraiser.
Each plunger is asked to raise a minimum of $100. Top fundraisers are recognized in four categories.
Farrah Gray, captain of the Massachusetts State Troopers team, was the top fundraising individual with about $2,500. The top fundraising team, Holden Youth Soccer, totaled nearly $7,000. Collecting about $6,000, the Auburn Rockets was the top fundraising school team. The Haverhill Stars ski team raised about $3,000 as the top fundraising SOMA local program.
As noted on the SOMA website, the Polar Plunge helps to “provide over 14,000 athletes with a safe opportunity to participate in sports training and competition programs that help them live longer, happier, healthier lives.”
“Every dollar raised directly supports year-round sports training and competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities in Massachusetts,” the website notes.
Learn more about SOMA at specialolympicsma.org and facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsMassachusetts.
