Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Victoria, BC – The VicPD “Royal Plungers” team, which includes Chief Manak alongside VicPD officers, staff, and volunteers, is set to participate in the 2022 Polar Plunge in support of Special Olympics BC (SOBC).

The 2022 Polar Plunge for SOBC, taking place from March 5th to 20th, supports life-changing year-round sport, youth, and health programs for people with intellectual disabilities. This year, the Polar Plunge will play a vital part in helping athletes get back to sport and the SOBC community, which are important to their health and wellbeing.

The pandemic has had a long-lasting, far-reaching impact on athletes with intellectual disabilities, who were already far too familiar with the pain of isolation. More than ever, SOBC needs support to rebuild their year-round, in-person sport programs that create empowering connections, open hearts and minds to inclusion, and break down barriers.

“This is a great event to help individuals with intellectual disabilities, and to support them in achieving their goals in sport, health, and wellness,” said Chief Del Manak. “I encourage everyone to support Special Olympics BC, and to consider taking the plunge for our Special Olympics athletes. Let’s all do our part to get our athletes re-connected to their community and back into the programs and games that enrich their lives.”

To date, the VicPD “Royal Plungers” have raised over $4,000 for SOBC. Please visit their team page to support their efforts, or donate directly to SOBC at www.specialolympics.bc.ca.

VicPD Cst. Dan Galano & SOBC Athlete Sheenagh Morrison

All are welcome to register for the Polar Plunge as a team or an individual at www.plunge4specialolympics.com. After completing the challenge, participants can share videos and photos on social media to qualify for contests and prizes.

About Special Olympics BC

Special Olympics BC is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport. In 55 communities around the province, they provide year-round training and competitive opportunities in 18 different sports to more than 5,200 athletes of all ages and a wide range of abilities, thanks to the dedicated efforts of more than 4,300 volunteers. For more information, please visit www.specialolympics.bc.ca or check them out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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