El Pasoans participate in ‘Polar Plunge’

The borderland saw 60 degree temperatures Saturday. While that’s much warmer than other parts of the country, it’s still pretty cold to dive into ice cold water. But that’s exactly what some El Pasoans did. It was all to raise money for local Special Olympics athletes.

Athlete John Chisolm said he was excited to slide down a nearly 30 foot slide and plunge into a pool filled with 2,000 pounds of ice.

“It’s going to be fun,” Chisolm said.

Once the ice was in, athletes and volunteers climbed to the top of the slide at the Wyndham El Paso Airport Hotel.

Then, one at a time, they took the plunge.

Chisolm’s mother, Phyllis, said the event is a great opportunity for the athletes.

“He feels more comfortable and he doesn’t feel like he’s being separated from the rest,” she said. “Because sometimes we have that feeling because we’re different. But we all are different. But it’s a very important time for him to be able to relax and just meet a lot of people.”

All money raised Saturday is going to help Special Olympics Texas, which serves more than 2,300 children and adults with disabilities.