A pool of ‘copsicles’ will be seen at Dee Why Rock Pool next month as Northern Beaches and Upper North Shore police make the plunge into winter waters to raise money for the Special Olympics.
The event is called the Polar Plunge and hundreds of people across the Oceania region will be participating, including scores of police officers on 3 August, coordinated by the Law Enforcement Torch Relay.
“The Law Enforcement Torch Relay – which is a worldwide organisation – raises funds for the Special Olympics…to fund uniforms and for travel to compete at events all over the world,” Inspector Mathew Paterson told Manly Observer at Dee Why Rock Pool.
“I have a passion for swimming as well. And through the Manly Swimming Club, and I’ve had a number of these (Special Olympic) swimmers that were members of the club.”
This wasn’t everyone’s first rodeo, Superintendent John Duncan, the new top cop at the Northern Beaches Police Area Command has come back for more – nine years after the last time he had a go.
“I did it once before. I think it was about nine years ago, and I must admit, it was quite chilly at that particular point in time… But it’s a great cause. A great opportunity for us as local police to be involved in this local initiative.”
The Polar Plunge is held in conjunction with the Law Enforcement Torch Relay. The origins of the event began in the US in 1997 but soon became an international trend and now a longstanding tradition in Australia since 2002.
This is the first year the plunge will be held in Dee Why with all the participants aiming to raise a collective $50,000, with about $8,500 raised so far. But, the leap of faith isn’t just for the police: anyone can jump, including the Special Olympics athletes themselves.
Steven Kildea, Special Olympics snow boarder and down hill slalom rider recently arrived back from the Winter Games in Italy with a bronze medal for the super giant slalom.
When asked if he’s doing any preparation for the day of the jump, Steven assured he’s had plenty of experience in Italy.
“I just got back from Italy, me and another guy went in the creek… it was pretty cold!” He said.
Athletes, Juliet Liddy, who represented Australia in basketball at the Germany Special Olympics two years ago, and Michael Paterson who participates in Special Olympics swim training, are fundraising for the event also.
“I’ve raised about $1000,” Juliet shared, already reaching her targeted goal.
“Make that, $10,000,” Michael ambitiously added.
So far, there are about 41 individuals and eight teams raising money for the Dee Why event. Team Kind, a group made up of parents Rick and Joanne and their eldest son Taylor are jumping on behalf of their connection to special athletes.
Their youngest son Joshua – who is too young to jump but will be supporting from the sidelines – swims for the Special Olympics. Rick also volunteers as a basketball coach for the organisation. However, their primary reason for jumping seems to be big guns mum who signed the family up.
“Well, you signed us up so we didn’t really have a choice,” Rick jokingly said to Joanne.
“I don’t mind too much. Josh is too young to do it, so he’ll be watching. But, these two will suffer the consequences!” Joanne retorted.
Joshua, with his humble personal fundraising goal of $100,000…says he thoroughly enjoys his swimming with his favourite style being backstroke. Rick, equally enthusiastic about his contributions to the Special Olympics organisation, shares his coaching is tough, but rewarding.
“I used to play and coach mainstream, and then I’d always seen people with different capabilities playing, and thought that looked really interesting. And, yeah, just accidentally, sort of fell into it,” Rick said.
“It’s not easy work… but, the best part is they have way more fun than any team I’ve coached before. They’re all congratulating each other and even the opposition, and it’s just fantastic, I really enjoy it.”
The Law Enforcement Torch Relay followed by the Polar Plunge will be held at Dee Why, on 3 August.
Simon Liddy, Vice Chair of Special Olympics Sydney Northern Beaches is participating in the plunge and invites other brave souls to do the same as the event expands across the state.
“It’s previously been held in New South Wales at Cronulla, but they decided to try and make it a regional activity. So it’s spread throughout the state, not just in one spot, because it’s a bit too hard for some people to get to,” he said.
“I’m doing it myself. I’m wearing a wetsuit proudly, and yeah, maybe a bit of fancy dress.”
Participants of the Polar Plunge are told to bring a towel and a dry change of clothes for after the jump. Before that people are encouraged to dress in a fun diverse range of outfits.
If you’d like to donate to the cause or even jump yourself, you can do so on the Polar Plunge website.
If you want to support our boys and girls in blue directly visit their fundraising page here.
