Special Olympic Volunteers Take Plunge in Newcastle

 SPECIAL Olmypic Ulster Volunteers have decided to get  “Freezin’ for a Reason” and have raised £6000 by a Christmas dip in Newcastle harbour

Volunteers take the plunge into Newcastle Harbour in a novel Polar Plunge event.

Over 50 people took the plunge into the ice cold waters in Newcastle.

The ‘Polar Plunge’ saw each ‘Plunger’ raising a minimum of £100 sponsorship for the privilege. Regional Fundraising Co-ordinator for Special Olympics Ulster, Ronan McCay said: “Over 50 brave souls took the plunge on Saturday 15 December for Special Olympics Ulster, raising over £6,000 to support the sporting programme we provide for our athletes. Volunteers and athletes from Shimna Stars Special Olympics Club, based in Newcastle, were there on the day to encourage ‘Plungers’ into the water, and we thank them for their kind support.

“All in all, it was a great fun and a challenging fundraiser, with our plungers getting truly ‘freezin’ for a reason.’

The Special Olympics is a year-round sporting organisation for people with intellectual disabilities and was formed in Ulster in 1978. Some 2,043 athletes are registered with SOU which currently has a network of 97 clubs across Ulster with 5,855 volunteers.