University of Wisconsin-Stout sophomore Travis Revolinski knows the smile of happiness his sister, Annie, a Special Olympian, gets when she has a chance to compete with her swim team, the Green Bay Metros.
“She absolutely loves it,” said Revolinski, 19, a technology education major. “Special Olympics is one of the greatest things to be a part of in a community.”
Revolinski will take part in his first Polar Plunge, from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, in Menomonie as part of the UW-Stout Waterski Team to help raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin. Special Olympics gives his sister, who has cognitive and physical disabilities, a chance to compete as well as enjoy the social aspect of being part of a team, Revolinski said.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Revolinski said of the plunge into the icy waters of Lake Menomin at Wakanda Park Beach. “I’ve always wanted to plunge. I’m always down for new things. It’s for a good cause.”
The water ski team, which has about 30 members, has been active in promoting the Polar Plunge, handing out flyers at the Menomonie Winter Daze parade and encouraging others to take the plunge.
Lisa Walter, retired UW-Stout police chief, is the plunge coordinator for the Indianhead Region of Special Olympics. She will oversee the Menomonie plunge and the Feb. 25 Eau Claire plunge on Half Moon Lake.
“The Polar Plunge is more than jumping into freezing water,” Walter said. “It’s about changing the lives of over 10,000 athletes across the state of Wisconsin.”
Kaitlin Mallek, 20, of Plover, president of the water ski team and a junior majoring in art education, said the team also plans to hand out flyers at local athletic events to boost participation in the Polar Plunge. “It’s so nice to give back and help raise money so the athletes can continue to participate in events,” Mallek said.
The team wanted a volunteer opportunity and to help with a community event.
The goal is to raise $35,000 to $40,000 at the Menomonie plunge, Walter said. All funds raised at the Menomonie plunge will stay in an 18-county area for Special Olympics participants. In 2017, Polar Plunges raised about $1 million for Special Olympics Wisconsin with more than 6,000 plungers, according to the Special Olympics Wisconsin website.
This is the second year the Polar Plunge has been at Wakanda Park Beach. It used to be held at Elk Point on Tainter Lake.
“The people at Elk Point were amazing, but we simply ran out of space,” Walter said. “Wakanda beach is closer to Menomonie, which is a good thing. It has space for growth. We have more community and business involvement.”
An estimated 400 people are expected to take the plunge on Feb. 10, Walter said.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Walter, who has plunged and been a Special Olympics volunteer for 25 years. “It is a bucket list item for a lot of people.”
Supporting Special Olympics often means there is a higher chance of the participants having a full-time job and health care benefits, yet lower health care costs, Walter said.
More volunteers are needed, and more plungers are welcome at the Menomonie plunge. To volunteer or to sign up visit the Special Olympics Wisconsin website. Those taking the plunge must raise at least $75. Registration is also available on site.
There will be free shuttles to Wakanda Park for the plunge starting at 11 a.m. on Feb. 10 from the Silver Dollar Saloon, 315 Main St. E., Marion’s Legacy, 632 S. Broadway St., and the Waterfront Bar & Grill, 512 Crescent St., all in downtown Menomonie. Free parking is available at the top of the Wakanda Park hill. Shuttles will be available down to the plunging area, Walter said.
A breakfast, open to all, is scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 10 at the Silver Dollar Saloon, 315 Main St. E. All donations for the meal will support Special Olympics Wisconsin.
Walter said being a part of Special Olympics has always meant a great deal to her. “The athletes have done way more for me than I have done for them,” she said.
Since 1968 Special Olympics has been changing attitudes about the talents of people with intellectual disabilities and changing the world, Walter said.
“Starting in July 2018, we are celebrating 50 years of creating a more inclusive, welcoming world for all. Join us — and change the game,” Walter said.
For more information on the celebration go to the Special Olympics website.
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Photos
UW-Stout Athletic Director Duey Naatz takes the leap at a prior Polar Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics.
Lisa Walter
