It was one statement, one bit of information that lit the fire for personal trainer Sandra Supulniece. As she was preparing for a class in the winter of 2009, one of her athletes mentioned the Maryland Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge. That was all the spark that was needed to light a fire not only for Sandra, but for 20 of her boot camp participants as well.

Last year, members of In Zone Fitness came together outside of their routine boot camps and plunged into the Chesapeake Bay with 11,000 other participants. They had so much fun that they signed up again this year. This time, they had a goal. They planned to raise $3,000 for the Special Olympics.

Unfortunately, due to illness and injuries, their group is smaller this year and their fundraising efforts were not as successful as they had hoped. Even so, they are heading down to the bay this morning with $1,860 earmarked for their cause.

Sandra and her crew of boot camp athletes are not the only ones who have had a hard time fundraising this year. The organizers of the event have noticed a drop in funds as well. Instead of the $3 million dollars they had hoped to raise, to date they have raise just over $2 million. Donations are still being accepted and both Sandra’s group of plungers and the organizers are hoping today’s plunge will help them over the hump. 

I met the In Zone Plungers this morning as they were working out the logistics. They were discussing the carpooling and the parking, exchanging cell phones numbers and the handing out shirts to wear as a team. They were working on the logistics even as they were still dripping sweat from their early morning boot camp. This is a group that is motivated. Not just for fitness and for charity — but for fun as well.

While jumping into the Chesapeake Bay in a bathing suit and T-shirt on one of the coldest days of the year isn’t exactly my idea of fun, these 15 athletes are chomping at the bit to participate once again. The plunge into the bay is only part of the day’s festivities. 

The Plungefest, which begins before the dip and continues long after the last dipper leaves the bay, will include live entertainment and plenty to eat and drink. The event that started with 350 plungers back in 1997 has grown to an incredible 11,000 plungers. And while many of the plungers have worked hard to raise funds for a good cause, they come back year after year, bringing friends and family along with them because it is a fun event.

“It is for a good cause,” Sandra told me as she handed out the red shirts this morning. “When I heard about it and mentioned it to this crew, there was no twisting arms. People wanted to do it. It is nice to give back. Plus, it is nice to spend some time with the boot camp crowd doing something that is just fun.”

Area students plunged yesterday as part of Frigid Friday festivities.

After watching the promotional video with Special Olympic Athlete, Rosa Marcellino, it is easy to see what all the fuss is about. It is easy to understand why Sandra’s boot comp athletes would be willing to jump in that frigid water, why they would spend months raising funds, and why they hope to keep coming back.

Check Patch later for more on the Polar Bear Plunge.