(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Dozens of Southwest Side pre-schoolers put on their swim suits today and took part in their own Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics.
“It was super-duper cold,” said four-year old Teddy Jedrey, who was one of more than 60 St. Cajetan School pre-schoolers who put their feet in a small ice- and water-filled pool in their well-decorated classroom.
Teacher Jeanine O’Malley started the event five years ago.
“We started because one of my pre-schoolers had a sibling that was born with Down Syndrome. Her family started a team for the Polar Plunge, a neighborhood family, so we decided we were going to get in on it.”
Pre-schoolers at St. Cajetan School in West Morgan Park raise hundreds of dollars every year for Chicago’s Special Olympics, O’Malley said.
“We spend a lot of time in school talking about differences, and we teach in a Catholic school so we can talk about God and how God made everybody different and different is good.”
Five-year old Brendan Leahy was one of the Polar Plungers who put their feet in a little pool filled with ice cubes and water and cheered fellow students. He pronounced it fun.
Students received certificates celebrating their participation.
Money raised will benefit Marty and Reese’s Warriors, one of the largest Chicago Polar Plunge teams.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram