‘Freezing for a reason’ at Southwest Michigan Polar Plunge 2023

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Each year, the Southwest Michigan Polar Plunge – where brave plungers from across the region revel in “freezing for a reason” – grows by leaps and bounds.

This year, Brock Havens from The Plan B Morning Show on Rock 107 WRX, said, proved to be the most successful one.

“This is the biggest polar plunge southwest Michigan has seen yet,” Havens, who was emceeing the festivities at Watermark Brewing Company in Stevensville Saturday, Feb. 4, with Jonny Reinhardt from The Morning Show on News/ Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM, said.

The goal for the Southwest Michigan Polar Plunge was to raise $100,00 (up from last year’s goal of $86,000).

It was announced on Watermark’s Facebook Monday, Feb. 6, that more than $125,000 had been raised.

The fact that there were more than 300 plungers this year also helped.

According to Special Olympics Michigan’s website, the Polar Plunge is the biggest fundraiser for Special Olympics Michigan, with all funds being raised by plungers to help Special Olympics

Michigan provide yearround sports training and athletic competition for nearly 23,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Michigan.

The Polar Plunge is presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a movement of volunteers dedicated to increasing awareness and funds for Special Olympics Michigan athletes across the state.

Because of their “support and bravery to plunge” into the freezing cold water, Havens said that plungers were “directly helping athletes step out of the sidelines and into a lifechanging experience.”

Berrien County

Undersheriff Chuck Heit, who counted himself as part of the seven-member Berrien County Sheriff’s Office plunge team, said that the Southwest Michigan plunge is in District 17, which is comprised of Berrien and Cass counties and some of Van Buren County.

“It’s one of the biggest polar plunges in the state,” he said.

Plunges go on throughout all the districts in the state and last through March.

Plungers are members of the local law enforcement as well as the Michigan State Police, different organizations and corporate teams. Fundraising is required to participate in the event.

Heit said that, as of that morning, the sheriff’s office’s team had raised almost $19,000.

“It’s by far our biggest as well in the fundraising, so we’re very thankful for all those who donated,” he said.

The sheriff’s office also participated in No Shave November, with proceeds going toward the plunge.

New Buffalo Township Fire Chief Jamie Flick, who counted himself as a member of the fire department’s eightmember team, said that, as of that morning, the team had raised a little over $6,100 – also the most they’ve ever raised.

“It’s going for a great cause,” he said.

As opposed to having a pool, this year, the Plungester, a trailer that’s made especially for the plunge rolled into the street in front of the brewery, with members of the Lincoln Township Fire Department filling the tank on it with “very cold water” before the event, Heit said.

Despite the frigid water temperature, Audrey Proctor, a cadet with the New Buffalo Township Fire Department, said she enjoyed her first-time experience of taking the plunge.

“It was for a good cause, I’m glad I did it - I loved it and I’d do it again,” she said.

Heather Fox, director of Law Enforcement Torch Run at Special Olympics Michigan, said that it was expected that over $500,000 would be raised from the five plunges that were going on that weekend.

It was also expected that the state would hit $1.6 million from the plunges.

“It’s a fun event – the energy’s always high at these events, people love it, young and old, it’s familyfriendly,” she said.

Fox said that the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which is comprised of a group of officers from around the state, is a worldwide organization.

“Around the state from Michigan, officers raise money for Special Olympics and this falls under that umbrella, so we have a lot of law enforcement officers in the area that have raised a ton of money, they sit on our committee - some representatives from Berrien County and the Michigan State Police - so we really appreciate the law enforcement support of this event,” she said.

Betty Jean Lambert 1951-2023

Betty Jean Lambert, 71, of Galien, died peacefully Tuesday, January 31, 2023, in the comfort of her family’s presence, surrounded by angels.

Her life began September 12, 1951, in Buchanan, Michigan, the second of five children born to Leland and Mary Williams. She married Lewis A. Lambert on June 24, 1967, in Hannibal, Missouri.

Betty loved taking care of the future generations by having her own inhome day care. She loved each child/