A polar bear plunge this weekend in Tacoma will raise money for Special Olympics Washington.
The event will take place Saturday morning at Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park. Registration will open at 9 a.m. and the dip into cold water will be at noon. There will be heated tents for participants to change in, organizers said.
Those who don’t want to jump in can stand on the shoreline in the “chicken coop” and watch.
Participants already have raised more than $30,000. Signing up means the individual agrees to raise $50 to $75 for the Special Olympics.
As of Wednesday, about 225 people had signed up, 100 of whom are law enforcement officers in Pierce County.
“That’s really good for our first time out,” sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.
This is the first year the event has been held in Tacoma.
Troyer and Fircrest Police Chief John Cheeseman said they will jump into Puget Sound in their uniforms if their online donations reach $1,000 each.
The Tacoma plunge is one of eight being held this year to benefit the Special Olympics, which has about 10,000 athletes statewide.
A small festival will follow the plunge until 3 p.m. To participate or donate, visit bit.ly/YCdX4v.
stacia.glenn@ thenewstribune.com
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