Polar plunge: Freezin' for a Reason' to help Special Olympics athletes
In two weeks, hundreds of people will crowd 'Owen Beach' at Tacoma's Point Defiance to take the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Washington. These polar plungers know how to party -- a costume contest kicked off the event at Golden Gardens Park on Elliott Bay. "It's just beautiful, it's festive, it's fun," said Mary Do with Special Olympics Washington. The event gets a ton of support from law enforcement including King County's top cop John Urquhart who lost his flip-flop last year in Lake Union. This year, he came prepared with lace-up shoes. "These shoes have seen better days, so have I," said Urquhart. "But if I lose one it's no big loss, my wife will be really happy I got rid of these shoes." Urquhart led dozens of officers and Washington's Most Wanted host David Rose into the Puget Sound where the water was a brisk 46 degrees. At last count, the plunge raised $100,000 for the athletes. "You've got to support Special Olympics, it really hits home to me," said Ken Caldwell. "I've got a nephew with autism, so anytime you can raise money for a good cause, that's what we are here to do."