5 minute read
Gates
from Eastern Living
by Cooke NC
GATES COUNTY
Take the POLAR PLUNGE
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STORY BY LESLIE BEACHBOARD PHOTOS BY CAL BRYANT, ROANOKE-CHOWAN NEWS-HERALD
For the last nine years in January, supporters from near and far gather at the Beaver Lake Ski Club to take a frosty plunge in the lake to support the Gates County Special Olympics.
Gates County High School teacher and event organizer Barbara Toti says the event came together due to a need for funding for the local Special Olympics.
“One of the students at the high school, Steven Hill, was a Special Olympics athlete and he asked me if I would come watch him participate,” said Toti. “I didn’t realize he meant he wanted me to go to the state games to watch him, so I went to the local games.”
While Toti was there, she talked to the Gates County Special Olympics coordinator about the need for extra funding for the program.
“She explained that the funding was low for
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the Special Olympics program and they could barely meet the budget; I told her I would see what I could do,” she added.
First, Toti decided to try and raise funds to take a bus of teachers, students and supporters to watch Hill participate in the state games in Jacksonville.
- BARBARA TOTI
“It worked. We were able to take a bus to Jacksonville for the games. Steven was excited to have us there to support him,” she added.
Next, Toti decided to research ways to raise money for the Gates County Special Olympics.
She and a few others did some research and decided a polar plunge sounded like a fun idea.
“We did some research. We even visited and participated in a polar plunge in the Chowan River to get ideas for the event,” she said.
“We discussed having to event with individuals at Beaver Lake Ski Club and they agreed,” Toti added.
The first Gates County Polar Plunge for Special Olympics was held in January 2012.
“It was a big success. We had a lot of school participation,” said Toti.
The polar plunge included a chili challenge. Cooks could bring Crock-pots of chili to be
judged during the event. Trophies were awards to the top chili cook off winners.
Participants of the polar plunge would pay $35 to participate. They would get the opportunity to run into Beaver Lake during the winter, and receive a T-shirt and a bowl of chili from the cook off.
“The event went so well we decided we would do it again the next year,” she said.
According to Toti, the second polar plunge was one to remember because of the freshly fallen snow that covered the ground the day of the event.
“It was my favorite of the events. It was so beautiful. Even though we pushed the time back a few hours, we still had a smaller crowd. But we raised the same amount of money as years when we had large crowds because the teams who didn’t attend still sent the money they had raised,” she said.
Toti said Gates County Schools, Beaver Lake Ski Club, Gates County Rescue and the local State Employees’ Credit Union have all been beneficial to the continued nine-year success of the fundraiser.
“This really is a community effort to raise money for a great organization,” she continued.
The teams for the event select themes. They dress up for the event.
There is an awards ceremony and trophies are award for a costume contest and a creative presentation.
Last year a group dressed as hippies and their theme was “polar power” as in “flower power.”
“We have children as young as 4 and 5 years old participate. They start out in the polar plunge kiddie pool. We raised over $1,000 one year for Hill’s grandfather, Bill Presley, 80, to plunge into the lake,” Toti added.
According to Toti, participants who pay $35 are allowed to run into the lake, but for an additional $40 donation they can jump off of the pier into the lake.
“This is popular. We have a lot of participants who pay the extra to jump off of the pier,” she added.
Toti said the support is tremendous.
“Schools bring their student body together to help with raising funds for their team. The Gates County Schools Superintendent comes to support the event. The school district’s maintenance department sets up the stage,” she added.
Gates County Rescue has also been a big supporter of the event. They provide their boats on the water and are present in case there is an emergency.
Toti said one of the biggest moments of the event happened two years ago when Jessica Bradshaw, the homecoming queen and Special Olympics athlete, sang the National Anthem.
“There was not a dry eye at the event,” said Toti.
“We have families drive from Maryland and Durham for the event. We have students that have graduated come back to Gates County just to show their support,” she continued.
The 2020 Gates County Polar Plunge for Special Olympics was slated for Saturday, Jan. 25.
Registration began at 10 a.m. Then, the judging and awards ceremony took place with awards for the T-shirt contest, best presentation and the chili cook off. The participants took the plunge into Beaver Lake at 11:30 a.m.
One of the new additions for this year’s event was the SensABLE Snacks truck onsite serving healthy snacks.
“The truck is sponsored by Easter Seals and this is special because a lot of the Special Olympic athletes also participate in Easter Seal activities,” she said.
Toti says each year they have at least 40 to 50 people register and most come as teams.
“My goal for the future is to make the event bigger and better with more group participation. I would like to see more of a variety of community groups participate,” said Toti. “ I think it has already been a big success to keep the event going for more than five years.”
“I would like to thank everyone who has helped keep the event going including the Beaver Lake Ski Club, Gates County Rescue and the local State Employees’ Credit Union. The support for the community shows they see the need for the Special Olympics program and it helps raise awareness for these young people,” Toti closed.
Leslie Beachboard is a Staff Writer for Eastern North Carolina Living and the Martin County Enterprise & Weekly Herald and serves as the News Editor for the Bertie Ledger-Advance.
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