Bigfork Special Olympics team gets creative with Penguin Plunge

The Bigfork-based Special Olympics team is holding its annual Penguin Plunge fundraiser in a new format this year since the traditional event, usually held at Whitefish Lake during the Whitefish Winter Carnival, was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rather than have attendees jump into frigid lake waters in Whitefish, supporters will be asked to walk or run through a 25-meter course at Bigfork High School that is designed to get them drenched. There will be super soakers and kiddie pools to pass through, among other obstacles. Special Olympics teams across the state will be holding smaller events on their own turf and recording snippets of the fun to be shared on the Special Olympics Montana Facebook page Feb. 10.

“It’ll be a quick thing but you’ll be cheered on, you’ll get a little wet and hopefully everybody will have fun for a good cause,” said Leslie Stodghill, local program coordinator and Bigfork Blaze coach.

The Penguin Plunge is one of the group’s biggest fundraisers of the years and helps cover things such as competition registration fees, lodging and team shirts. The event typically brings in between $1,500 and $2,500 — 60% of which stays with the organization while the remainder is distributed to Glacier Area Special Olympics to support the events they bring to the Flathead Valley.

The Bigfork Blaze Special Olympics team competes in a variety of athletic events throughout the year such as skiing, bowling and basketball.

Team members also partner with students from Bigfork Middle School and Bigfork High School for certain activities. Bigfork Schools is a Unified Champion School, a distinction that is awarded to campuses that promote interactions between students with and without intellectual disabilities.

“We try as much as possible to have competitions or practices … where our athletes get to participate with our partners at the school,” Stodghill noted. “We have a lot of students with really great athletic abilities and a desire to belong and compete.”

The Virtual Penguin Plunge will take place on the lawn between the high school and elementary and supporters can run the course for a $50 donation. Registration forms are available at the school offices, online and on the day of the event, which is 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24. Participants are asked to dress in clothes and shoes that can get wet and to bring a towel and a change of clothes.

“If you’re too chicken to plunge in the lake, this is perfect for you,” Stodghill said. “I’m more than willing to run through a sprinkler and the super soakers.”

Get Involved

Signup forms are available at the school offices or online at www.somt.org/plunge. Register under the team, Bigfork Blaze. Forms and pledge money can be returned to Leslie Stodghill in Room 111 at Bigfork High School. Same-day registration is also available. The Virtual Penguin Plunge will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24 between the high school and elementary school. For more information contact Leslie at (406) 212-3667 or lstodghill@bigfork.k12.mt.us.

Reporter Mackenzie Reiss can be reached at mreiss@dailyinterlake.com or (406) 758-4433.