BOZEMAN — For those brave enough to endure the cold, what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than to take a polar plunge?
“The Gallatin County Dive Team assists with the Presidents Day Plunge every year. We help dig the hole, clear the snow and then do safety for the jumper,” said Richard Gauron with the Gallatin County Tactical Dive Team.
It’s one of the biggest fundraising events in the Bozeman-area for the Special Olympics done in cooperation with the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
“I can’t express how much gratitude the Olympians and the Special Olympics community owes to law enforcement. They are a major reason why we get to do what we do,” said Tom Hazen, development director with Special Olympics Montana.
Law enforcement, city and county officials and supporters from the community teamed up to support Montana’s Special Olympics teams from the Bozeman, Belgrade, Three Forks and Livingston area.
“I work for Mountain Hot Tub so we were working the event anyways, so we were just fundraising to get out here and decided to jump in,” said Micah Harving.
“It says a lot about the community as far as their willingness to give back and their hardiness to handle this cold,” said Gauron.
As of Saturday afternoon, around $38,000 dollars was raised from the event.
“What I’m consistently blown away with especially in the state of Montana and the local communities is how much people come out for this organization,” said Hazen.
