About 50 law enforcement officers, media figures and general area citizens splashed into the chilly University Lakes on Saturday to help raise money for the state’s Special Olympics organization.
The third annual “Freezin’ for a Reason,” event took place at the Baton Rouge Beach off Stanford Avenue, drawing a crowd of more than 100 people.
To take the plunge, participants had to raise at least $50 in donations to Special Olympics Louisiana, the state’s branch of the athletic organization for people with intellectual disabilities.
“The object is to raise money obviously, but it’s also to have fun,” said Pat Carpenter-Bourgeois, Special Olympics Louisiana president and CEO.
Officers from the Baton Rouge Police Department and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office made up much of the crowd and most of the participants.
“Law enforcement always spearheads this event,” Carpenter-Bourgeois said. “We couldn’t do what we do without them.”
Carpenter-Bourgeois said statewide law enforcement raised about $325,000 of the organization’s $1.8 million budget.
BRPD officer Carl Dabadie took the plunge along with about 10 fellow officers.
“It’s pretty cold in there,” he said. “It really takes the breath out of you.”
Dabadie said the event was a chance for the officers to “give back to their community.”
“So many Special Olympians are going to benefit from this,” he said. “It’s just a great thing for the community.”
Donnie Guillory took the plunge for the second time Saturday.
“It’s cold. Really cold,” he said. “But it’s fun. I like it.”
Guillory competed in the International Special Olympics in snow skiing. He also bowls, boxes and plays tennis and basketball.
“This is really a chance for [the athletes] to give back to the organization,” said Guillory’s father, Charles. “Everything the Special Olympics does is so rewarding for them.”
WAFB Meteorologist Jay Grymes emceed the event.
“Don’t forget to look out for the alligators,” he joked, causing some consternation among the participants.
A section of the beach was roped off with police tape to make a “runway” for the participants to run into the water.
The rules stated that each participant had to get their hair wet to leave the water — several had to be dragged back in after “cheating,” eliciting raucous laughter from the crowd.