Poteau OKLAHOMA – The Poteau Polar Plunge 2023 was held on Feb 25, 2023, at the Poteau Public Pool in Tywman Park.
Many came out to show their support and many came braving the cold water temperature and plunged for a good cause – The Area 10 Special Olympics.
Awards were presented to:
The Youngest Plunger: Elijah McCormick
The Oldest Plunger: Barbara Lumpkin
Best Costume: Daryl Anderson
Best Team Costume : Poteau Rodeo Team
Top Fund-raiser Individual: Gary Hecht
Top Fund-raiser Group: Poteau Police Department
18 Teams took on the Polar Plunge Challenge.
The money raised will help with Special Olympic
According to their Facebook page
Money raised is vital to help our athletes with intellectual disabilities participate in year-round sports training & competition at no cost to them. Events include basketball, football, soccer, power lifting, track, bocce ball and many others. They also get to gain valuable leadership skills and attend health programming and screenings! The goal is to create and promote inclusion and awareness of our athletes all while helping them to live healthier and happier lives.
This plunge fundraiser is highly dependent on our plungers, teams, and donors. This year we had over 100 brave plungers on teams from the Poteau Police Department, Leflore County Sheriff’s Department, Poteau School’s Primary Polar Bears, Snow White and her posse, The Plungers, Leflore County Treasurer, Mercy Clinics Mighty Mercy Minions, Kiamichi-Tech Poteau Criminal Justice, JEHCC, Green Country Refrigeration, Leflore County Assessor’s Office, Masonic Lodge, Poteau Rodeo Team, Fat Man’s, Heavener 4H, Hog Pen Plungers and our hometown Special Olympics athletes on the Plunging Pirates.
Barbara Lumpkin – Oldest Plunger
Poteau Rodeo Team – Best Team Costume
Thank you to the City of Poteau for allowing us to use the Twyman Pool for our freezing plunge.
Most importantly thank you to all our sponsors for your donations. As mentioned above the money raised from this fundraiser is highly vital to our athletes. Please go to SOOK.ORG, and get involved. You can go to the calendar and see our area and local events. You can sign up and become a volunteer or coach for our awesomely unique athletes. It is a huge blessing, and you will be hooked once you get to see in person how your donations help our athletes. When you see the smiles of happiness on their faces as they get to compete in their events you will see why we need your donations and help every year. Thank you all again.
Our Oklahoma Special Olympics started in Tulsa in 1969 and have continued to grow ever since. Oklahoma Special Olympics serves over 12,000 athletes across the state. In 1986 Oklahoma Law Enforcement saw the need and started the (LETR) Law Enforcement Torch Run. The mission for LETR is to increase awareness and raise funds for the Special Olympics. This is done through merchandise sales and fundraisers like Polar Plunge. With the help of our communities across the state, LETR was able to contribute over $500,000 to the Oklahoma Special Olympics in 2022 alone.
Thank you all!
More photos and video are available to view on Oklahoma Welcome Facebook page
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