Meet Our SUPER PLUNGERS!!
What is the SUPER PLUNGE?
The SUPER PLUNGE??is an effort to increase both awareness and fundraising for the Torch Run Plunge.?? The??SUPER PLUNGE??is exactly like the Torch Run Plunge, with only one small difference… instead of plunging into the near-freezing water a single time, “SUPER??PLUNGERS” must plunge once PER HOUR for a 24 HOUR period. ??
8 MEN, 1 WOMAN, ??1 SORI ATHLETE, 24 HOURS, 240 PLUNGES for 1 SUPER CAUSE!??
In 2013 Chief Elwood Johnson turned the idea of doing a??SUPER PLUNGE????into a reality. With a local police department’s mobile command vehicle, a lot of courage and a heaping stack of dry towels, Chief Johnson began his plunging commitment at 12 noon on Saturday and continued once every hour throughout the night and into Sunday. Each plunge was self-documented with his iPhone. For some plunges, Chief Johnson had a crowd of spectators to cheer him on and at others he plunged alone in complete darkness. For his 23rd jump, he plunged with his wife and children. For the 24th, he plunged with the athletes and other participants of the Torch Run Plunge.
In 2015,?? SORI Volunteers, Jim Cummings, Bob Mathews, Officer Eric Leclerc and Firefighter Rick LaBreache, made the commitment to join Chief Johnson in the??SUPER PLUNGE. ??Each individual had a different motivation for joining: however the one common factor is the over 3,200 athletes who participate year-round in Special Olympics RI.????Their goal was to collectively raise $30,000 which would provide immense assistance to SORI sports programs, allowing them to continue to grow and provide countless opportunities for each of our athletes on and off the playing fields.??
In 2016, Chief William Ziehl, Sgt. Diogo Mello, along with Correctional Officers’ Anne LaRocco and Matt Laythe joined Chief Johnson, Officer Leclerc, Firefighter Rick LaBreche (retired), Jim Cummings and Bob Mathews in the SUPER PLUNGE, raising over $80,000 for SORI.
This year, Det. Mark Brazil and Sgt. Erica Vieira From the URI Police Dept., along with Ron LaBreche and SORI Athlete Michael Bullock will join Chief Elwood Johnson, Chief William Ziehl, Det. Eric Leclerc, Det. Diogo Mello, Rick LaBreche and Bob Mathews in the Super Plunge.
Please support the SUPER PLUNGERS by visiting them at Salty Brine Beach in Narragansett and cheering them on or consider making a donation to their team at
For more information regarding our SUPER PLUNGERS, please contact Tracy Garabedian at tracy@specialolympicsri. org or call (401) 349-4900.
- Date: Sunday, March 5, 2017
- Location: Salty Brine Beach, Narragansett
- Registration begins at 10:00am
- Changing tents
- All plungers receive access to the Post Plunge Party at George’s beginning at 12:30pm with lots of great food.
- Create your own Firstgiving fundraising page at: www.firstgiving.com/soriTR
- Donation: $50 minimum donation to plunge!
- Incentives, the more you raise the more you get!
- All non-plungers can join the post plunge party beginning at 12:30pm for a $15.00 donation.
- PLUNGE at 12:00pm
Click here for 2017 Torch Run Plunge Fact Sheet????
We need everyone’s help and support to make the 10th Anniversary of the Torch Run Plunge the biggest ever!?? For additional information regarding the Torch Run Plunge, please email Tracy Garabedian at tracy@specialolympicsri.org or??call (401) 349-4900.