District employees take the plunge!

Posted February 8, 2010
By Brittany Brown
Norfolk District Public Affairs

2/8/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Each year thousands of tourists soak up the sun, soft sand and rolling waves at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Ironically, each winter thousands brave the icy Atlantic Ocean waters at the oceanfront in what has become the largest fundraiser for Special Olympics – the Polar Plunge Winter Festival.

Norfolk District employees were among the 2,636 thrill-seekers Feb. 6, who participated in the 18th Annual Polar Plunge despite temperatures in the 30s, snow flurries and winds gusting up to 30 mph.

"This year's polar plunge was a very challenging event to pull off considering Saturday's weather conditions, but we managed to do it in a safe fashion," said Rick Jeffrey, president of Special Olympics Virginia.

As a national annual fundraiser, polar plunge proceeds benefit children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics. Since its inception in 1993, more than 28,000 plungers have raised more than $5.5 million for Special Olympics Virginia.

The Corps team included the district commander, civil engineers, environmental scientists, construction representatives and interns who work at the Waterfield Building and field offices in Richmond, Va., Fort Eustis, Fort Monroe and Langley Air Force Base. The 17 Corps plungers raised more than $3,000 in support of Special Olympics Virginia.

Activities featured this year included the first-ever Pee Wee Plunge for youths 12 and under, live music and warm beverages, a corn-hole tournament, plunger costume contest, ice carving demonstrations and sand sculpting.

To support the event's "superhero" theme, Norfolk District's plunge team Corps donned hard hats and custom-made red capes, complete with the Army Corps of Engineers castle insignia.

This year's polar plunge marks the fourth time civil engineer Jon Reyes plunged into the icy Atlantic and his second time as team captain.

According to Reyes, the biggest challenge he faced organizing this year's district team was distance. As a resident engineer at the Fort Eustis, Va. field office, and nearly 40 miles from district headquarters in Norfolk, Reyes relied heavily on E-mail and phone communication to recruit team members.

Despite gusty winds, high waves, snow flurries and freezing rain, engineer-in-training and first-time plunger Drew Johnson was undeterred.

"During and after the plunge, I couldn't really feel anything at all. Although the water was surprisingly refreshing, the worst part was the snow-covered sand and my feet staying cold … it felt like it was 10 degrees. I didn't regain feeling in (my feet) for a few hours, but it was definitely worth it," said Johnson.

Johnson is quick to add that thousands of enthusiastic plungers were inspired by the opportunity to raise funds that benefit nearly 9,500 athletes throughout the Commonwealth.

Construction representative Robert Graham agreed, adding, "I endured the insanity for a great cause!"