IVCC Club TEACH participated in The Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge in Loon Lake – Silver Springs State Park, Yorkville, on March 8.

Nine people took the plunge on Sunday and together the team raised $1,592.

TEACH vice president Brianna Bertolino said although this is only her second year taking the plunge she plans to continue to plunge for years to come.

Bertolino continues to say, “Doing it over and over again seems crazy because you know what you’re getting yourself into each year but you are not doing it for you, you’re doing to help others and raise money for an awesome cause.

The Polar Plunge is an opportunity to raise money for Illinois Special Olympics athletes. Each person participating in the plunge raised at least $75 in order to take the leap.

Samantha Halm, a member of Club TEACH said, “Special Olympics is incredibly important to promote inclusion, respect, and awareness between people with special needs and those who don’t.”

The goal of the Polar Plunge is not only to raise money but also to raise awareness for Special Olympics.

According to the Polar Plunge web site, in 2014 over 7,300 plungers raised more than $2.1 million for Special Olympics of Illinois. In the last 16 years, over $12.3 million has been raised by the over 47,000 plungers.

At the Yorkville event, 507 plungers raised exactly $157,000 to benefit Special Olympics in Illinois.