Hundreds prepare to jump in frigid water for Special Olympics

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Fishkill Polar Plunge 2021 (file photo)

FISHKILL – Hundreds of people will be jumping into a partially frozen lake at the Sharpe Reservation for the 24th annual Polar Plunge to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics NY on Saturday, February 19.  The participants have been raising money at a fast pace according to Teresa Gilli, Director of Development for the Hudson Valley Chapter of Special Olympics NY, and donations are still being accepted.

After a pandemic-restricted event in 2021 that had 198 jumpers that raised $156,000, Gilli said this year’s event has 368 participants and 40 teams prepared to brave the ice-covered water.  “We have a number of people that do this every year and are leading fundraisers.  I am confident that our repeated top fundraising jumpers are going to help us set a record.”

After the New York State Police Dive Team from Troop K clears the ice on Saturday, experienced jumpers like Linda Fakhoury and her team will jump into the frigid lake.  The entire event has raised almost $110,000 for this year and is on target to raise $200,000 when it’s over.  “Many of our teams are holding fundraisers over the next few weeks to raise additional funds,” Gilli noted.

“I can’t praise our participants enough,” Gilli said.  “With their support our athletes will have training, uniforms, travel, and lodging for the events they’ve been training for.  The athletes and their families are supported by the Polar Plunge jumpers and every generous donor that supports the event.”

“Our goal is to raise $200,000 this year,” Gilli said.  Ms. Gilli is known throughout New York for her prolific fundraising efforts.  “It takes a minimum of $350 to support each of our athletes because we never want their families to be burdened,” Gilli said.

Dutchess County native Linda Fakhoury has been braving the chilly waters for more than a decade and has enlisted her family over the years.  The humble Fakhoury has consistently been a top fundraiser for the Polar Plunge.  As of Tuesday. more than $108,000 have been raised, according to Gilli.  Fakhoury is one of the top achievers, raising more than $3,000 by herself.  Labeled as a “fundraising hero” by many friends and colleagues, Fakhoury dismissed the praise.  “This isn’t about me, my team, or any other brave person that is about to jump into a frigid lake, it’s about helping others.”  The unassuming team leader deflected the praise to the Special Olympics Athletes, saying “The real heroes are the athletes of the Special Olympics and I am so glad we can do our part in showing them we stand by their side, always.”

Donations to commemorate Fakhoury’s ten-plus-year commitment can be made HERE.  “As I’ve said before, this is not about our team.  Donations go to support the incredible athletes  of the Special Olympics.  I want to reiterate that the donations are not for our team – it’s for the true athletes of Special Olympics.”

Additional details on the 2022 Polar Plunge can be found by clicking HERE.

Fakhoury and her team were captured on video for the 2021 plunge.  The video is here:

 




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