Jill Mitchell is a 26-year-old Madison woman who suffers from a cognitive disability. Though most people would think that the challenges she faces would hold her back from certain activities, Mitchell has never been more successful. Currently, Mitchell participates in eight sports for Special Olympics Wisconsin including speed skating, bowling, volleyball, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, softball and track and field.
\She's always busy, always outgoing and very personable,"" said Carrie Mitchell-Podehl, Jill's mother. ""She makes friends easily and as a result, Special Olympics is her life. She is never afraid to try new things.""
Thanks to the funds raised from Special Olympics events like the Polar Plunge, Mitchell will be traveling to Nagano, Japan to compete in a speed skating competition at the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Without the help of thousands of participants and supporters, Mitchell would not have been given the training and experience she needed to have this incredible opportunity. Because of events like the Polar Plunge, Mitchell and 1,200 other athletes across the South Central area of Madison will be able to gain the confidence and leadership benefits that all athletes get from participation in sporting events.
This Saturday, Feb. 19, hundreds of UW-Madison students and faculty will plunge into the icy waters of Lake Monona as part of the largest fundraising effort benefiting Special Olympics in the entire state. Though the thought of the chilling waters stabbing at their bodies may cross their minds, most participants will be focusing on the bigger picture. By taking part in the sixth annual Polar Plunge, they will be giving more than 1,200 athletes with cognitive disabilities a chance for a brighter future.
UW-Madison seniors Berit Lewison and Lindsay Dorcas are both strong supporters of the Polar Plunge. After learning of the event through UW-Madison's Marketing Society, Mu Kappa Tau, the girls have dedicated much of their time to promoting the event.
""We are very excited that the event will take place on Lake Monona this year. In past years, it hasn't really been convenient for students to participate, but this year we hope to have a great turnout from students and staff of the UW,"" Lewison said.
For the past three years, Lewison and Dorcas have showed their continued support of Special Olympics Wisconsin by volunteering for various community service activities. They have contributed to the event by promoting its existence, collecting pledges, and even going as far as taking ""the plunge"" themselves. Both students agree that the time and energy put into the Polar Plunge is certainly worth the benefit they receive from knowing they contributed to a great cause.
""It's really amazing to see how much money we can raise each year. Though taking the plunge is an amazing adrenaline rush, the idea of knowing that you've helped raise funds for so many people is really the most rewarding part of the whole thing,"" Dorcas said.
Supporting the cause
The purpose of the Polar Plunge is to raise funds in order to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with disabilities. In a nutshell, participants raise funds by collecting pledges, and in exchange, vow to jump in the waters of Lake Monona in the middle of winter.
The first ""plunge,"" took place in Onalaska, Wisconsin in 1999 and raised more than $30,000 for the Special Olympics Wisconsin. After experiencing a huge success, four more Special Olympic Areas joined in on the excitement, and by 2002, eight Polar Plunges took place in the state. Last year, the Polar Plunge reached its greatest success rate when more than 5,000 participants and 20,000 spectators raised approximately $900,000 to support Special Olympics Wisconsin. This year the Polar Plunge hopes to raise even more money to aid the athletes who participate in the Special Olympics games.
Simple facts
Though many people confuse cognitive disabilities with mental illnesses, the fact is people with cognitive disabilities are just as normal as everyday citizens. The problem is they have difficulty carrying out normal activities because they have a slower rate of learning. It is hard for people with cognitive disabilities to understand the behavior of others and adapt to the socialization around them.
Though 125,000 children are born each year with cognitive disabilities, research and medical advances have contributed greatly to helping prevent many of the cases. Thanks to events such as the Polar Plunge, nearly 10,000 athletes have benefited from the money that has been raised. While it is disturbing to think that more than 6,000,000 individuals in the U.S. alone suffer from a cognitive disability, it is good to know that there is still hope for many.
Cold, but worth it
Both Lewison and Dorcas admit that the frigid temperature of the water is enough to scare away anyone. The excitement, however, is something to look forward to. Since the Polar Plunge began, participants have ranged in age from seven-to 70-year-olds. Not only do the staff and students of the UW support this event, but city officials around Madison have been known to take the plunge themselves. Both girls emphasized that if these people can have enough guts to jump into the icy waters in the middle of the winter, there is no reason why some crazy college students shouldn't be able to gather a little courage, too. When it's all over, you'll realize that it wasn't that bad after all.
The girls also stressed the importance of how this event connects so many people. While there are many people jumping, some of the more hesitant fans choose to support from the sidelines. According to Lewison and Dorcas, there is really a unified feeling at the Polar Plunge because everyone is there for such a great reason. Since people from all over the community get involved and connect, it seems as if every organization is represented at the plunge.
""It's cold, there's no doubt that it's very cold, but it's so worth it when you think about why we're doing it,"" Lewison said.
-www.specialolympicswisconsin.org contributed to this report.
