Louisville Plunge Becomes “No Splash Bash”
Flooding, Continuing Weather Concerns Force Change of Plans for the Louisville Polar Plunge
Flooding and continued weather concerns in Louisville have forced Special Olympics Kentucky to convert their annual Polar Plunge fundraiser, which was scheduled for tomorrow, into a “No Splash Bash” that will be held tomorrow at HopCat at 1064 Bardstown Rd. HopCat was already set to host the after-Plunge Party.
The No Splash Bash will continue one of the Polar Plunge’s most important traditions – the annual costume contest. People who were planning to take the Polar Plunge are invited to come to HopCat beginning at 10:30 to complete their registration, drop off any additional money they had raised and collect their fundraising prizes. At 11:30, there will be an opening ceremony followed by the costume contest just as it would have happened at Waterfront Park. Fundraising awards will also be presented, and there will be an opportunity for Polar Bears to get a little Freezin for a Reason by trying out the Frozen Toes Tub that will be set up on site.
“We couldn’t be more disappointed that we weren’t able to hold the Polar Plunge, especially in its 20th anniversary year,” said Special Olympics Kentucky Development Director Jennifer McMahon. “The conditions around the river in addition to the threat of severe weather just won’t allow it. But we must to give our supporters an opportunity to come out and celebrate their efforts to raise money for Special Olympics Kentucky and to show off the costumes that we know they have worked so hard to create.”
The official No Splash Bash festivities will run until 1 pm, with HopCat offering specials for would be Plunge participants.
This is only the second time in the 20-year history of the Polar Plunge in Kentucky that one of the events has had to be canceled. The other came in 2015 in Lexington, when a severe winter storm knocked the event out.
All money raised via the Polar Plunge and the No Splash Bash provides sports training and competition opportunities, health screenings, early childhood development programs and school community building activities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Kentucky.
The 2018 Louisville Polar Plunge is sponsored by Republic Bank, Bachman Subaru, Delta Dental, Red7e, The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Kentucky, Louisville Metro Government, Louisville Waterfront Development, AAA Travel Steepleton, and our media partners WLKY and 98.9 Radio Now.
For more information about the Polar Plunge No Splash Bash, contact Jennifer McMahon, Development Director at [email protected] or 502-326-5002.
The Louisville Polar Plunge is the longest-running of five Polar Plunge events Special Olympics Kentucky holds throughout the state. Last year, Polar Plunges raised more than $425,000 to support Special Olympics Kentucky programs. In the Plunge’s 19-year history the events have raised more than $7.5 million.