Special Olympics plunge comes to H.O. Brittingham

H.O. Brittingham Elementary students and staff took part in a virtual plunge Jan. 27 to support Special Olympics Delaware.

Just like the annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge, each participant had to raise a minimum of $75 in pledges to participate. 

The difference with this plunge is that Milton Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Roland “Skip” Millman brought a fire truck to school to douse participants near the bus-loading area.

The water temperature was about 60 degrees, Millman said. The air temperature was a much chillier 44 degrees after school that day.

H.O.B. physical education teacher Bill Funkhouser, who organized the event, said the Cape Vikings H.O.B. Team raised $1,359, well over the original goal of $500. 

“The H.O.B. staff and families were very generous,” he said.

Special Olympics Delaware provides sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for more than 4,200 children and adults with intellectual disabilities each year. Special Olympics does not charge its athletes a fee to participate and provides uniforms and equipment at no cost.

The 2023 Lewes Polar Bear Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Delaware took place Feb. 4 and raised more than $1 million. Learn more at sode.org.