Hannibal Also Holding a ‘Polar Plunge’ Saturday

Take your pick this Saturday for the Polar Plunge event you want to attend. Perhaps you might want to do both? Quincy's Polar Plunge, in its 12th year, begins at 12:15 and Hannibal's Polar Plunge, in its 5th year, begins at 2 that afternoon. Both are fundraising events for Special Olympics.

This Saturday’s weather forecast is a lot better than the weather for last year’s Hannibal Polar Plunge, when it was under 20 degrees and snowing when people starting diving into the Mississippi River at the Hannibal Marina.

The Special Olympics Polar Plunge registration this Saturday in Hannibal begins at noon and at 11 a.m. in Quincy at Moorman Lake.  As of this writing, the forecast for Saturday calls for temperatures in the high 40's and clear skies.

Last year’s Hannibal Polar Plunge raised a record $14,673 for Special Olympics. The goal for this year’s Polar Plunge is $15,000.

Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Missouri’s year-round program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. There are more than 500 Special Olympians in Northeast Missouri.

Registration for the Polar Plunge must be done online at www.somo.org. Participants must be at least 10 years old and raise a minimum of $75 by event day. Each participant receives a sweatshirt.