The “Freezin’ for a Reason” team included Vinton Police Chief Fabricio Drumond, VPD
Executive Asst. to the Chief Mandie Baker, Detectives Justin Baker and Jacob Miller, Deputy
Town Manager Cody Sexton, and Julianna Drumond, Regional Manager of the Virginia Dept.
for Blind and Vision Impaired. They joined teams from across the region at Bisset Park in
Radford for an icy dip in the New River.
According to Sexton, the water temperature was between 40 and 42 degrees when they took the
Plunge.
“I never would have dreamt of doing a polar plunge in a million years,” said Sexton. “However,
we raised money for a great cause, and our team got some fun memories together. We are
looking for volunteers for next year!”
“The water was most certainly brisk!” Chief Drumond said. “The team raised $1,315, not bad
considering our goal was $500! We have loved supporting the Special Olympics for years now,
whether it is the large event at Roanoke College, plane-pulling at the airport, or cold plunging in
the New River.”
The entire event raised $76,000 for Special Olympics of Virginia.
The Polar Plunge fundraiser allows Special Olympics Virginia to provide free year-round sports,
competitions, leadership opportunities and health services to more than 23,000 athletes of all
abilities. There were six separate Polar Plunges across the state this year.
Special Olympics Virginia’s gives athletes continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness,
demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship
with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
However, Special Olympics is about more than just sports. Special Olympics Virginia shows
others the capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities so they can be more included in
society. When people interact with these athletes, they learn to start with what's possible, instead
of what isn’t.
According to Special Olympics Virginia, “While we’re building more inclusive communities,
we’re also building healthier ones. It is well documented that people with intellectual disabilities are less active than those without; this is not because of their disability, but the lack of access to
opportunities that fit their needs. Special Olympics fills that gap.”
To support Special Olympics by making a donation or volunteer, visit
https://impact.specialolympicsva.org/give/t797589/#!/donation/checkout .
