![Roanoke County law enforcement participated in Special Olympics Virginiaโs Annual Torch Run](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ZICB9zQvENtexW3HoIXEiz3Z7A8=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/06-09-2021/t_4e6ff2ad95824965b9202bfd442c0875_name_image.jpg)
Roanoke County law enforcement participated in Special Olympics Virginiaโs Annual Torch Run
Local law enforcement members are hitting the pavement and lighting the way with an annual tradition.
![Freezinโ for a reason: Polar Plunge exceeds fundraising goal for Special Olympics Virginia](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6Y26yhJ4uBfmTZ8xIjHfNZpYpfY=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/02-06-2021/t_6040fa87520d43d0b55327ea03c4f787_name_image.jpg)
Freezinโ for a reason: Polar Plunge exceeds fundraising goal for Special Olympics Virginia
DALEVILLE, Va. โ Saturday marked another successful polar plunge benefitting Special Olympics Virginia. The scenery was a little different for this yearโs Polar Plunge but the cause was the same. โWe were freezinโ for a reason,โ WSLS 10 News team co-captain and anchor Brittny McGraw said. โYou canโt ask for a more worthy organization than the Special Olympics of Virginia,โ Haniewich said. Thanks to your generous donations, the 10 News team also exceeded its goal, raising $6,650.
![Special Olympics athletes use basketball to stay active, connected during pandemic](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/_izN9bskarNE0Jw5CAXNeLmQLGs=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/02-04-2021/t_f322b50d062e43dd9406be8299d11e28_name_Creative_ideas_to_support_Special_Olympics.jpg)
Special Olympics athletes use basketball to stay active, connected during pandemic
ROANOKE, Va. โ The push to the 2021 Polar Plunge is on, as teams across Virginia are coming up with their own unique ways to plunge in support of Special Olympics Virginia. Special Olympics athletes are also coming up with their own ways to stay connected and active even though the pandemic has made that harder. Tim Cross and Matt Hall, both athletes with Special Olympics, teamed up to organize and lead a winter basketball clinic to keep fellow Special Olympics athletes active and engaged during the pandemic. โIt was, to me, thatโs what Iโm looking for, that independent way of thinking.โThey all encourage people to support Special Olympics because of the impact it has in the lives of athletes and volunteers. โThis time, Special Olympics, is their time to shine.โTo donate and support Special Olympics Virginia through the Polar Plunge, click here.
![Law enforcement community teams up with Special Olympics](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/l3I6foa8u6yr4-h48DGDZUcpOeo=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-28-2021/t_b662327f27fc41fbb42a7d6384eccbb3_name_image.jpg)
Law enforcement community teams up with Special Olympics
SALEM, Va. โ The law enforcement community has been a longtime supporter of Special Olympics. Fadorick said she and her colleagues get to see firsthand how important Special Olympics is to its athletes. AdโI canโt say it enough, itโs just so rewarding to interact with the athletes and see the appreciation and what they get out of the Special Olympics,โ Fadorick said. โThe Polar Plunge is one of the biggest fundraisers for Special Olympics and obviously with the pandemic, donations and fundraising are down significantly so itโs really important that people participate and support Special Olympics,โ Fadorick said. AdPolar Plunge teams are encouraged to take the plunge between February 1-6.
![VT Sorority Connects with Special Olympics Athletes During Pandemic](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/sEVg5Kc8ChXdNFlGP9phw-Vz8nQ=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-21-2021/t_3952399ce60b4ea69d9e5da674baaf99_name_image.jpg)
VT Sorority Connects with Special Olympics Athletes During Pandemic
BLACKSBURG, Va. โ The roster of teams continues to grow as people across Virginia get ready for this yearโs Special Olympics Polar Plunge. Some of the teams participating in the 2021 Plunge have partnered with Special Olympics for years, including several fraternities and sororities from Virginia Tech and Radford University. โWeโve been really, really blessed to still be able to work with Special Olympics regularly, weekly, still see the athletesโ faces,โ said Erin Upton, service officer for XDA. In years past, XDA members took part in a variety of sports with Special Olympics athletes. โIn the past, XDA has worked with athletes and Special Olympics to do a variety of sports from swimming to bowling and everything in between,โ Upton said.
![Fundraising, team building continue for 2021 Polar Plunge](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/lZuLsmxcNcpoQhWddujdo2RJr_k=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-14-2021/t_1fecd47877c54aff8b6196953890c036_name_image.jpg)
Fundraising, team building continue for 2021 Polar Plunge
ROANOKE, Va. โ In less than a month, individuals and teams from across Virginia will take part in the 2021 Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Virginia, but with a twist. Instead, people get to โplunge their wayโ and decide how they want to take the plunge. Money raised by the event supports Special Olympicsโ mission to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. As a proud sponsor, WSLS 10 is participating and raising money to help Special Olympics. Special Olympics Virginia is planning a week of Polar Plunge activities starting February 1 and ending with a virtual celebration on February 6.
![Special Olympics athletes, supporters encouraged to โPlunge Your Wayโ](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/yo5EP9Qsu5J9_ZJ6VAYV6RDjYU4=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/12-25-2020/t_328da902de1a4ff182410f404c306a4d_name_image.jpg)
Special Olympics athletes, supporters encouraged to โPlunge Your Wayโ
The annual event raises money to support the athletes and mission of Special Olympics Virginia. The upcoming plunge will look different because of the pandemic, as participants get to plunge their way. โWe are looking for a hot tub to do it,โ said Joey Wheeler, an Area 9 Special Olympics athlete. Special Olympics knows, no matter how participants plunge, it will make a big splash in the lives of their athletes and volunteers. Click here for more information on the 2021 Polar Plunge and how to get involved.
![Special Olympics athletes stay active and safe through bocce](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/IYsCC0SKC4CbVZE8nZ7dIN3wRI0=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/12-10-2020/t_eac92ae29f8f4ba39fab28094dbbb6db_name_image.jpg)
Special Olympics athletes stay active and safe through bocce
BLACKSBURG, Va. โ In just a few weeks, athletes, volunteers and community members from all across Virginia will once again take the plunge to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Virginia. Special Olympics Virginia had to suspend in-person activities in March, but since then athletes, volunteers and staff have found one sport in particular that works well with COVID-19 restrictions. Bocce proved to be an ideal sport for Special Olympicsโ unified programming, which brings together athletes with and without disabilities. โSpecial Olympics means to me being involved with other activities and just being out there having fun with friends, " Wheeler said. For more information about Special Olympics Virginia and the 2021 Polar Plunge, click here.
![Freezinโ for a reason: Polar Plunge raises nearly $60,000 for Special Olympics Virginia](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/30KAiC-baHEuWsCdTHZgbSKZRP8=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/02-23-2020/t_38ed5ec42adc4d9ebbf19bf1112e660e_name_image.jpg)
Freezinโ for a reason: Polar Plunge raises nearly $60,000 for Special Olympics Virginia
The Polar Plunge benefits Special Olympics Virginia through fundraising leading up to the event. This year, the Polar Plunge raised nearly $60,000 for Special Olympics Virginia, surpassing the organizationโs goal of $55,000. Itโs really exciting to see.โ'WSLS 10 raised more than $8,500 for the Polar Plunge, which was second-most among all fundraising teams. The top team was the Virginia Tech chapter of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, who raised nearly $15,000. "A week into me being in the organization, they had me raise money for the Polar Plunge, so they get you started early with that kind of stuff.โThe money raised during the Polar Plunge will be used for a myriad of important costs within Special Olympics Virginia.
![Local athlete spreads Special Olympics message through Global Messenger program](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/uX-O40Yh9g-amFPrR1CCOAXSGOE=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-30-2020/t_3006fe35e2e148cea76c07ac214c20cc_name_image.jpg)
Local athlete spreads Special Olympics message through Global Messenger program
ROANOKE, Va. โ Excitement is building for the 2020 New River Polar Plunge, which benefits Special Olympics Virginia, and one athlete is especially eager to dive right in. "I'm very excited for it and it's going to be a lot of fun," said Nicholas D'Elicio, an athlete and global messenger with Special Olympics Virginia. D'Elicio, of Roanoke, said he discovered Special Olympics' programs about five years ago with the help of a friend. As a global messenger, D'Elicio spreads the word about the work Special Olympics Virginia is doing in the community and in the lives of its athletes. The 2020 New River Polar Plunge will take place Saturday, February 22 at Dudleyโs Landing at Bisset Park in Radford.
![Hundreds getting ready for New River Polar Plunge](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/huE0H-9QvZ_l9S5cvPrmcBkAF00=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-23-2020/t_539df53e34c245ac82bcd6758bb7a5c1_name_image.jpg)
Hundreds getting ready for New River Polar Plunge
BLACKSBURG, Va. โ Hundreds of people are eagerly awaiting the chance to take an icy dip into the New River next month, as a part of this yearโs New River Polar Plunge. โIt gets really exciting, especially if thereโs snow on the river bank,โ said Nancy Morehouse, Southwest Region Director of Special Olympics Virginia. 10 News is excited to partner with Special Olympics Virginia to support the Polar Plunge, which is the main fundraiser for Special Olympics programming in southwest Virginia. The 2020 New River Polar Plunge will take place Saturday, Feb. 22 at Dudleyโs Landing at Bisset Park in Radford. You can help support Special Olympics' mission by making a donation to this year's Polar Plunge or signing up to take the Plunge.