Tega Cay, Fort Mill police team up for polar plunge for Special Olympics

The Tega Cay and Fort Mill police departments are asking the community to help support South Carolina Special Olympics by jumping into Lake Wylie in the dead of winter.

The two departments are teaming up for the “Freezin’ for a Reason 2016 Polar Plunge” on Feb. 6 at the Tega Cay Beach Club at Lake Wylie.

To take part in the plunge, participants must raise or pay at least $50, which will be given to Special Olympics.

Tega Cay Police Chief Steve Parker said he will take the plunge himself if he can raise $500, and City Manager Charlie Funderburk will jump in if he can raise $2,000.

Law enforcement agencies raise money for Special Olympics in a variety of ways, including Cops on Top of a Doughnut Shop and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

“We’re a lakefront community,” Parker said, “so it makes sense to have a polar plunge.”

Parker would like to see 200 people jumping to raise a total of $10,000.

Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. with coffee, doughnuts and hot chocolate followed by cornhole, a costume contest, school spirit and fundraising awards and lunch. The big plunge is at noon.

Anyone who wants to take the plunge or register a team can visit bit.ly/1Oh5InM. For more information, call Lt. Vince Holland at 803-548-0340.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Tega Cay, Fort Mill police team up for polar plunge for Special Olympics."