Vikings Take A Plunge for a Good Cause
Every year the Special Olympics hosts a series of “Polar Plunges” to raise funds for the organization. The events take place in February and March all across the country. “Plungers” have to raise a certain amount of money for the “privilege”* of freezing their butts off. Non-plungers can also donate money just to watch. From what I could tell, the object of the game is to jump in, get to the ladder as fast as your frostbitten little legs can go, and jump to the nearest hot tub before hypothermia sets in.
Last weekend was Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s turn, and the group of Plungers included Minnesota Vikings alumni, coaching staff, Victor the Viking, and four Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. I believe it was Mandy, Kaylee, Lauryn, and Blair, but I won’t swear to it.
** Watch the video
** Photo gallery
From what I know about the Vikings Cheerleaders, and admittedly, it’s not that much, I can tell you a few things for certain:
- They had way more volunteers for this appearance than could be reasonably accommodated at the event
- This was a non-paid appearance, but it didn’t occur to any of them to ask for a hazard bonus
- Not one of them blinked when it was explained that they were to jump in with arms uncovered, midriffs bare, hair fully styled, and poms ‘a shakin.
*Not that I don’t applaud their efforts to raise money for an extremely worthy cause, but let’s be real, ok? You have to be out of your mind to do this. And to do it in Wisconsin. In WINTER. In the immortal words of Whitney Houston “HELL to the no.”
From left: Mandy, Kaylee, Lauryn, and Blair
Mandy gets extra points for Jumping with Style (second only to the cannonball to her left) and for being the only one to go completely under water (although I suspect that was unintentional.)
Lauryn's face says it all...
...and it's still talking
Quick! Everyone into the hot tub!
The aftermath: all smiles.
