Medford Polar Plunge benefits Special Olympics
These brave souls took the Medford Polar Plunge just before the Blizzard of '26 hit. The event was co-hosted by Medford Police and the Medford Chamber of Commerce.
By Crystal Yormick
About 50 people took turns immersing themselves in a truck-size basin of frigid water outside Hormel Stadium Sunday, Feb. 22, to raise money for Special Olympics Massachusetts.
The second Medford Mobile Polar Plunge, which was hosted by Medford Police and the Medford Chamber of Commerce, raised about $8,000 of its $15,000 goal. Participants could sign up individually or as teams, and fundraising sources included sponsorships and donations. The event included free food, free car wash vouchers, and an after-party at Ford Tavern.
Participants included members of the Medford Police Department, Tufts University students, and other community members. The crowd gathered beforehand in the parking lot outside the stadium, where people could sign up at the last minute and some sponsors had tables to promote their businesses.
Medford Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Laura O’Neill said the event was a way for the Medford business community and Police Department to come together and make a positive impact.
“It’s our way of helping the police raise money for Special Olympics,” O’Neill said. “The police do a lot of business in Medford, and it’s a coordinated effort for a great cause.”
Medford Police Public Information Officer Jessica Walsh said the organizers first met at Medford National Night Out, and the idea blossomed from there. The plunge, run by the Law Enforcement Torch Run of Special Olympics, was a collaboration between the Medford Police Department and the Medford Chamber of Commerce. A professional diver was on hand to assist participants.
“It’s just such a community endeavor,” O'Neill said. “We love that the businesses and that the police all get together."
People had different reasons for participating. Some said they have family or friends with special needs, while others said they wanted to give back to the community and bring people together.
“It’s just a great way for people to come out to do something outside of their comfort zone,” said Kylie Cronin, fundraising coordinator for Special Olympics Massachusetts. “Our big thing is to jump for inclusion.”
There are 31 other plunges happening around Massachusetts, according to the Special Olympics website. Participants chose different ways to jump in, ranging from cannonballs to belly-flops to jackknives.
Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said she plunged because Medford has several inclusionary programs across the city she wants to support, along with the police department and Special Olympics.
The event was originally planned for Feb. 8 but changed because of cold temperatures.
Anthony Petrelis and Jon Sencabaugh, who plunged for the Beyond Podcast team, said they saw the event after it was delayed, so they were able to sign up.
“[This is] allowing kids the opportunity of all walks of life [and] giving them the opportunity to do what everyone else can do,” said Sencabaugh, whose 6-year-old daughter has special needs.
The team, which raised $420, the second highest amount, credited their podcast audience.
It took about 20 minutes for all plungers to go, and many met the water with yelps and gasps. One man outstretched his arms and asked the crowd, “Are you not entertained?” They cheered, and he jumped in.
People had different reasons for participating in the Polar Plunge, hosted by Medford Police and the Medford Chamber of Commerce. Some said they have family or friends with special needs, while others said they wanted to give back to the community and bring people together. GOTTA KNOW MEDFORD PHOTOS/Crystal Yormick
Some wore bathing suits while others wore clothes or costumes. Two sisters wore matching Raising Cane’s T-shirts. There were awards for “Most Spirited Plungers,” which went to the brothers of Theta Chi, which is a fraternity at Tufts University, "Most Spirited," which went to Petrelis, and “Top Fundraiser” and "Top Fundraising Team," which went, respectively, to Walsh and the Medford Police Department. Walsh raised just over $2,000, individually, and the MPD team as a whole raised over $3,000.
“It’s just such a good reset,” said Carly Ciarletta, area leader of marketing at Raising Cane’s, sporting a red Raising Cane's T-shirt.
Those plunging expressed a mix of excitement and apprehension before entering the water.
“I’m freezing just thinking about it,” Lungo-Koehn said.
Walsh said the event will hopefully continue each year and continue to get more people involved.
To learn more and to make a donation, visit https://fundraise.specialolympicsma.org/events/946.
This story is part of a partnership between Gotta Know Medford and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
