SANDY POINT — Team Kent County, led by Chief Ron Dixon of the Chestertown Police Department, is returning to the Police Polar Plunge that supports Special Olympics Maryland.
This year’s event for law enforcement, military, fire/EMS and first responders is Friday, Jan. 31 from the shores of Sandy Point State Park.
This is Polar Bear Plunge Week, with the Cool Schools Plunge on Wednesday and Thursday, the Police and Corporate plunges on Friday, and the all-out community Maryland Plunge on Saturday.
Team Kent County participated in its first Police Polar Plunge in 2024 with three members, including two who actually took the plunge into the Chesapeake Bay. They raised $2,300.
This year the team has grown to 13 members, representing the Chestertown Police Department, Kent County Sheriff’s Office and Washington College Department of Public Safety, as well as several family members of local first responders.
Their modest goal of $2,500 has been surpassed. As of Wednesday, Team Kent County already had raised $3,185 — moving up to 18th among 94 teams.
Anyone interested in contributing to Team Kent County can do so here, https://support.somd.org/team/597570. The donation portal will remain open until early February.
“We sincerely appreciate the support we have received from the communities we serve,” Dixon said.
More than 1,000 first responders are expected to participate Friday as a show of support for the nearly 20,000 athletes served by Special Olympics Maryland.
According to its website, the mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This gives them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
“Our purpose is through sport, creating a world where opportunity is not limited by disability,” the website states.