HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – The water will be cold, but the skies sunny and spring like temperatures will kick off Holland’s Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Michigan.
The Holland Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Michigan is Saturday, February 18 and you can sign up all the way to the day of the event. It benefits Special Olympics Michigan benefiting Area 12 which serves Ottawa and Allegan counties.
Grace Maiullo is Development and Event Coordinator for Special Olympics Michigan and says the Plunge helps provide year-round sports training, competitions, health programs and inclusive opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Maiullo says her favorite program to talk about and has a huge impact is the Healthy Athletes Program.
“We offer health screenings in seven different areas. One of the screenings is called ‘fit feet’ where they get fitted for the right shoe because often times athletes with Down Syndrome will have wider feet. Instead of getting the size that they need they just go up a couple of sizes. The screening gets them a wider shoe. There are vision and hearing screenings too. Our athletes sometimes do not always have the best health care. The program is free to all athletes.”
The Holland Polar Plunge benefiting Area 12 is Saturday, February 18, at the Elks Lodge on 24th Street in Holland. Registration starts at 11 a.m. and the first plunger jumps in at noon. You’re invited to stick around for the After Splash following the last plunger.
You can register and sign up as a team or individual.
An athlete from Grand Haven who has participated in Special Olympics Michigan is headed to Austria. Nikota Easterling is one of 210 athletes representing the United States in the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Easterling is competing in Cross-Country Skiing.
