Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Nick Pitts

There he stood, on a bitter cold January morning wearing only a bathing suit and a pair of Crocs, ready to take on the mighty Delaware River.

Flexing his arms and smiling for the cameras one last time, Dr. David Dunbar, associate biology professor, dashed into the icy river water with 75 other brave challengers.

"He's insane," Dr. Maureen Dunbar, his wife and moral support, said.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Special Olympics held the Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Neshaminy Park, Bensalem, Pa. The event was the first held in Bucks County.

"When I was younger, I used to do a lot of crazy things," Dunbar said. "But this was definitely worth it; it benefits a worthy cause."

Dunbar was the only participant from Cabrini; however, two honors students volunteered to help run the event, junior Gina Mulranen and sophomore Allison Potter.

The money raised at the event, $14,308.75 so far, will go to other events that the organization had to cancel due to insufficient funds.

This includes the Eastern Pennsylvania Winter Olympic games, the event that the Cabrini honor students have helped coordinate in previous years.

"Because of the current status of the economy, the organization felt the event was too expensive to run this year," Jeff Baxter, competition director of Special Olympics, said. "Our events are funded on donations, grants and business sponsorships, and people are decreasing what they usually donate."

The winter games, originally planned to take place on Jan. 21 and 22, is an overnight training camp and qualifier for the statewide winter games, held in Johnstown, Pa. on Feb. 22 through 24.

It is also a chance for athletes not competing in Johnstown to enjoy a day on the slopes.

"The event covers 20 counties in Eastern Pa., and generally has 80 to 100 competitors ranging in age from eight years old and up, but it seems to be getting smaller every year," Baxter said. "Housing close to 100 people overnight at a ski resort is expensive, not to mention the cost of lift tickets, transportation and meals. For now we are going to put the money we did raise towards other events so we do not falter at any other event."

Baxter said the event is on hold for the year, and the organization hopes to have it again next February.

Continued...

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