Warm Hearts Take Icy Plunge

When you’ve got proud participants, police horses, police dogs, police vessels and POLAIR, you’ve got an event. Sydney Polar Plunge had all that...and more!

There was a mighty, mighty Torch Run, the NSW Commissioner of Police, Karen Webb and her Executive Team along with the NSW Rescue and Fire Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell, SES A/Commissioner Debbie Platz and RFS Deputy Commissioners Kyle Stewart and Peter McKechnie made the first plunge, the police band played, numerous Police and Special Olympics teams plunged and then Law Enforcement Torch Run Australia foundation members walked the pier and plunged to end the wonderful day.

Thank you Retired NSW Police Officers, Scott Whyte, Don Stuart and Alan Keane for inspiring a new generation of Torch Run activity.

Thank you to our 192 Plungers!

In Melbourne, Polar Plunge attracted almost 150 Plungers. They faced a very frosty morning, which was quickly warmed up with a Torch Run!

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner, Wendy Steendam kicked off the event by plunging into the freezing ocean off a Water Police boat along with a brave Special Olympics athlete.

It was a ‘celebrity’ event with Ursula and Ariel from The Little Mermaid, a team of police officers wearing tutus, some noisy penguins, a pink cowgirl, members of the clergy, an air hostess, a team of pink-caped plungers wearing Zoro masks, SES volunteers in uniform and Vikings.

The fundraising target for Melbourne Polar Plunge was $50k and participants smashed it by raising over $63k to help Special Olympics Australia bring more sport to more people with intellectual disability/autism.

They are also champions for their “I Survived the Polar Plunge” cookies!

Thank you to our our 147 Plungers!

Well done Albany for kicking off the inaugural Polar Plunge on 20 July 2024 with an incredible day of fundraising, community connection and teamwork at Middleton Beach. We hear the weather was stunning and the water was perfectly calm…and cold!

Thank you to our our 48 Plungers!

While the sun was shining brightly, it was a chilly challenge in Perth as over 200 people took the Polar Plunge at Hillarys Boat Harbour to raise funds for Special Olympics Australia. The fundraising target was $35k, yet our WA warriors managed to raise a whopping $60k to support athletes with intellectual disability/autism.

To get the fun underway, WA Police Force Deputy Commissioner Allan Adams APM led participants into the chilly water.

It was an inspirational day that brought community together to support people with intellectual disability/autism to play sport, and it made the mainstream news...on channel 7, 9 and 10!

Thank you to our 242 Plungers!

A small, but dedicated crew – the Geraldton Police Rangers – wore pirate-themed attire as they bravely took the icy plunge to support Special Olympics Australia.

Thank you to our 8 Plungers!

It was smooth sailing in Adelaide as around over 40 participants, including Special Olympics Australia athletes, took to the flat, but chilly, waters of Glenelg Beach for the inaugural Oceania Polar Plunge

So far, Polar Plunge Adelaide has raised $10k to bring sport, joy and inclusion to athletes with intellectual disability/autism...and local media were here for it!

Thank you to our 44 Plungers!

It was a family affair at Chermside Aquatic Centre in Brisbane as brave participants, including Tim Mander MP and Dan Purdie MP, plunged into icy water to support Special Olympics Australia to bring more sport, joy and inclusion to athletes with intellectual disability/autism.

Thank you to our 43 Plungers!

Special Olympics New Zealand have told us that their Polar Plunge at Freyberg Beach in Wellington was an incredible success which raised more than $24,000 to support Special Olympics programs and athletes across New Zealand. It looked stunning!

Thank you to our 81 Plungers!