Hey you, Go jump in the Lake!

Not a bad idea, in the middle of August, when the temperature is over 80 degrees. What about the first Saturday in March when the ice on the lake is 16 inches think? 44 brave and freezing people plunged into Lake Manteno to benefit Illinois Special Olympics. This year Manteno Sportmen's Club joined 6 other lakes in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Bear Plunge.

Plungers were asked to collect a minimum of $75 each for their chilly dip. The hearts of our friends and neighbors were much bigger than that. The Lake Manteno Plunge brought 44 plungers who collected $14,320. One of the most successful "first plunges" ever according to Terri Andrews from Illinois Special Olympics. Our plunge beat Lake Springfield, Lake of the Woods and Galesburg in dollars raised for the cause. Top fund raiser was our own Noel Burke (pictured below in the hula skirt) who raised $1,100. Other top fund raisers were Kathryn Hamlen of Shapiro Development Center and Sgt. Brian Lockwood of the Manteno Police Department.

We don't have enough space to individually thank all of the Club Members who donated their time and hard work for this effort. We hope to make this an annual event at the club. Reserve March 6, 2004. If you can't take the plunge, sponsor someone who is. It is all for a good cause!

Women's Triathalon 2002