Making a splash for Massachusetts Special Olympics

Members of the Boston College community are gearing up again to make a splash into 30-degree water to raise funds for Massachusetts Special Olympics at the third annual BC Polar Plunge, which takes place at noon on April 5 in front of the Margot Connell Recreation Center.

The Boston College Police Department, in collaboration with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics and BC Special Olympics, will host the event. Participants will take the plunge into an above-ground mobile swimming pool.

Each year, supporters of Massachusetts Special Olympics gather to plunge into oceans, lakes, or pools. The proceeds from the Polar Plunge directly fund year-round sports training and competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities in Massachusetts.

In its first year, the BC Polar Plunge raised nearly $24,000, more than double its original goal of $10,000; last year, the event beat its goal of $30,000. This year, organizers have upped the mark to $40,000.

This year’s campus plunge will include music, raffles, food, and refreshments supplied by Dining Services, and the notorious “Bear Force One” mobile pool, named for Polar Plunge mascot P-Bear the Polar Bear.

“Now that we are in our third year, I’m realizing that there are a lot of moving parts that need to be handled in preparation for the day,” said BCPD Detective Kevin Christopher, a delegate for the Massachusetts Special Olympics and pioneer of the BC Plunge. “We collaborate with everyone from Athletics to Parking, Facilities Services, Dining Services, and more to make it all possible. It’s so worth it because everyone is so great to work with and the day is such a blast.

“Last year, there were so many smiles and students dancing to the music in costumes. I remember one of our co-presidents being so excited and yelling, ‘Are you ready to plunge? Let’s go!’ People were ready to sprint for the mobile pool before I even gave the safety briefing.”

The creation of the BC Polar Plunge was part of an effort to reintroduce fundraising activities at the collegiate level, noted Christopher, who spearheaded efforts to get BC Special Olympics recognized as an official University club many years ago. Other Boston-area colleges and universities like Brandeis, Harvard, and UMass-Boston have followed suit by organizing their own Polar Plunges that have attracted large crowds of excited plungers. In 2024 alone, Polar Plunge events across Massachusetts raised over $1 million for Special Olympics efforts, the largest collected sum ever in its history, according to its website.

“Raising funds for Special Olympics is important and the primary goal, but I measure the success of the Polar Plunge through the smiles,” said Christopher. “I imagine this event growing bigger and bigger every year through lighthearted fun—so big that it can practically run itself.”

For more information, or to register or donate, visit the Polar Plunge website. Donations will remain open for up to a week after the plunge.