Granite Staters raise $1.1M for Special Olympics NH through pair of polar-plunge events

LACONIA — Almost 300 people blasted into the icy cold waters of Lake Winnipesaukee at The Margate Resort over the weekend, raising more than $300,000 for Special Olympics New Hampshire.

Including fundraising from the Penguin Plunge, the total across all events is about $1.1 million, with money still trickling in to help support athletes with intellectual disabilities.

“This is game-changing for our organization,” said Shelby Cote, Special Olympics NH director of communications and volunteers. “The programs we are able to provide start at the core of sports, but they branch well beyond that.”

Winni Dip Weekend took place March 6-7, where supporters from local schools, law enforcement agencies and the community dressed up in jungle-themed gear and took to the water to raise money and awareness.

The Cool Schools Dip, which took place on Friday to kick off the event, involved 18 schools raising about $90,000. The top school was Bow Memorial School, $12,314. Litchfield Middle School and Inter-Lakes Middle School rounded out the top three, with $11,364 and $11,315, respectively.

Every school set to participate had a two-hour delay that morning due to weather, causing three not to make it, but students from all who could get there jumped into the water.

Laconia Middle was represented by Jas Murgatroy, who was announced as “Coach M,” and is the coach of the unified sports program. Murgatroy said it was a tough start for the program this year, as funding for the basketball season was short, and didn’t start until February.

“It was pretty short and funded out of my pocket,” Murgatroy said.

She said the water was so cold she couldn’t feel her toes, but helping an organization like Special Olympics is near and dear to her.

“I did this as a student when we first got the unified program in Laconia, so coming back as a staff member and doing it again to get the program back up and running feels incredible,” Murgatroy said.

Doug Moorhead is the former chief of the Woodstock Police Department, and currently works part-time for the Grafton County sheriff. He is a mainstay at the Winni Dip, and the Penguin Plunge, saying he has been participating since the start.

“I have been volunteering since back in college, but for the last 30 years, I have been involved as a member of law enforcement," Moorhead said.

Moorhead was emcee for the Cool Schools Dip, and at one point, hollered to dippers that the cold water was “better than coffee to wake you up in the morning.”

Donning a black tophat and a tie-dye hooded event sweatshirt, Moorhead was announcing the dippers, as several dozen spectators watched. He knows the event makes a difference, since he's been a part of much more than just diving into icy water.

“With people with intellectual disabilities, it is so inspiring to me to see what they are capable of,” Moorhead said. “New Hampshire Special Olympics don’t just have the athletics stuff, but there is also the Healthy Athletes program, and encouraging getting people with intellectual disabilities out working.”

Moorhead said he is so impressed by the athletes, particularly Charlie Helfrich, who is a sprint triathlete from Henniker. He competes at the USA Special Olympic Games, which Moorhead has attended to cheer him on.

Moorhead said he would join the fun on Saturday, when his fellow law enforcement participants came from across the state for the Law Enforcement Dip. That event raised about $68,000 overall. The top three teams were Londonderry Police, $8,854; Derry Police, $8,117; and Gilford Police, $6,125.

The Mega Dip, which started on Friday and involved 25 dippers hitting the water every hour for 24 hours, raised $117,000. The top three teams were Roar for More, $34,425; Hudson Police, $15,619; and Lebanon Police, $12,960. Doug Foley, Special Olympics NH board member, raised $24,683 all on his own, eclipsing his lofty goal of $20,000.

The Winni Dip, which involved community members jumping in on Saturday, raised $27,000. The top three teams were Munsonville Plungers 4.0, $12,144; The Frosted Fillies, $9,780; and DOT Splash Squad, $4,048.

“What is unique is that the $1.1 million comes in typically between $10 and $25 at a time,” Cote said. “There are some larger donations, but it is the folks in the state of New Hampshire and around the country rallying. To me, that feels so motivating.”

The Special Olympics Winter Games wrapped up the week before Winni Dip Weekend, and Cote said it was a big success. The organization is continuing to raise funds through March, during the Jersey Mike’s Month of Giving where order totals will be rounded up to the nearest $1 to benefit SONH. On March 25, all Jersey Mike’s locations will take part in a Day of Giving, where 100% of proceeds go to Special Olympics NH.

Special Olympics New Hampshire also has a “SONH Runs Boston” initiative, where seven athletes, volunteers and unified partners will run the Boston Marathon on April 20. Then it is on to the Summer Games, where Granite State athletes will compete in seven sports, June 12-13, at the University of New Hampshire.

For more information, visit fundraising.sonh.org.