York Student Athletes Take Part In “Polar Plunge” to Raise Money for Special Olympics
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Several York College student-athletes took part in a special event recently as they took time off on a Sunday to participate in the 4
th Annual Great Kills Beach Polar Plunge in Staten Island. The premise of the event is simple. Participants take a cold dip in the ocean in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the dedicated athletes of Special Olympics New York.
The Staten Island Polar Plunge helps to raise funds to provide year-round sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults living with intellectual disabilities. Currently, New York State has the largest Special Olympics program in the country, serving more than 48,000 athletes.
Special Olympics New York has 48,761 athletes across New York State compete and train in 22 Olympic-style sports throughout the year, always at no cost to them or their families.
Aileen Abad of the York College softball team, and Devon Lynch and Du'Quan Lawson of the men's basketball team, as well as a number of other York students took part in this important event. Overall, they helped raise over $300 for the cause. Approximately 800 people in all took part in the event.
Fortunately for the plungers, it was unseasonably warm that day, with a temperature of 53 degrees. Though the water was cold, it could have been much colder. The special Olympians were the first to take he plunge into the Atlantic Ocean, with the remaining participants following a few minutes later.
“It was a great event,” said York assistant Athletic Director
Jessica Cherry, who along with the student-athletes played a big part in promoting the event. “We will definitely do it again.”
