By: Karley Hawn
Since 2016, Lions Unified has been participating in the Polar Plunge to help raise money for Special Olympics. This year was a record-breaking year for the Lions Unified team, the Arctic Lions, according to sponsor Angela Phipps.
“Not only was this the biggest group we had plunge, but it was the most money we've ever raised,” she said. “As a team, we raised $5,000 for Special Olympics.”
Every person who plunged had to raise at least $100 to participate. T
he top members were: Grayson Perry, who raised $525 and Kendall Hickey with $450. Phipps said several students raised more than the required amount.
The Borden Special Olympics event, as a whole, had a goal of raising $90,000 and raised $94,138.
Phipps said not only was there snow on the ground Saturday morning, but the temperature in the air was 21 degrees and the temperature in the water was 38 degrees.
Sophomore Flora Wade, who was a part of the Plunge, said, “The temperature didn’t really affect me until I got out of the water and the cold air hit my body. We were all very grateful for the heater in the bathroom and we all ran to that after the Plunge.”
Phipps is hoping to continue to grow and get more people involved within the next few years.
“It's always cold, always memorable and always a lot of fun,” she said.
Wade said she is already looking forward to next year. “ I am definitely bringing so many more people to join me!”
Here is a list of all of the participants this year: Abby Maynard, Alexis Maudlin, Angela Phipps, Charles Heckman, Cole Roberts, Dahlia Saling, Delana Nolan, Emma Hamilton, Flora Wade, Grayson Perry, Isabella Frederick, Jada Cooley, Japeth Webb, Jason Sipe, Kaiden Romero-Hembree, Kenadie Garloch, Kendall Hickey, Kendall Morlang, Lanie Roberts, Les Bowles, Lizzy Porter, Madalyn Durham, Madison Green, Madison Williams, Maggie Gibson, Marika Tussey, Nicole Purlee, Payton Schocke, Peyton Maynard, Presley Marcum, Seth Ponsford, Van Stephens, Wyatt Chastain and Zayne Paulley.
