Thousands chill out for Special Olympics
There were more than 3,500 chilled participants at this year's Polar Plunge. The Polar Plunge has been such a large success and generously supports the Virginia Special Olympics, so year-round training and sports programs for both children and adults with intellectual disabilities are available throughout the state.
Noelle Graf from Hickory Middle School came to watch her sister Lauren Graf from Hickory High School's Swim team. With them is their mother, Jenny Barringer, an employee of Dr. Sonya Thomas Webb.
E.W. Chittum Elemetary School teachers volunteered to take the Plunge. From left: Kirsteen Mitchell, Sonja Lewczyk, Sandy Jackson, Chessie Folan and Ellen Tart.
Family and friends came out to support the brave souls who made the plunge. From left: Howard Knott, James Madison student Kyle Knott, James Vernhelle, Jimmy Coleman, and James Madison student Jessica Nauta.
One of the most important aspects of the plunge is the Dive teams and here are a few we were able to catch before going into to the water. From left: Todd Dooley, Andrew Tvaryanas, Erik Shaw, and Mike Slezak from the Chesapeake Police Dive Team.
Dam Neck Military personnel from left: Dave Johnson, Karl Parsons and Gia Mate were meeting to take the big plunge.
Flamingo Queens from the Parrot Head Club of Tidewater were getting ready to make the plunge.