Supporters of Special Olympics plunge into chilly waters of Candlewood Lake in Brookfield

Mar. 23—BROOKFIELD — Supporters of the Special Olympics turned out on a blustery weekend day in Brookfield to support the nonprofit.

The event was one of six similar plunges planned in Connecticut this spring, with participants jumping into the chilly waters of a lake or Long Island Sound. The fundraising events benefit Special Olympics and its year-round sports, health and fitness programs for athletes around the state and help create communities that accept and include people of all abilities.

On Saturday, participants gathered at the Brookfield Town Park in the rain and took a chilly jump into Candlewood Lake, with a projected water temperature of about 40 degrees.

Each participant paid $25 to join in on the frigid fun and was asked to raise an additional $75 for a total of $100 to support Special Olympics Connecticut.

Other similar events have been held in Middletown and Groton, with future events scheduled for Tolland on March 30, Monroe on April 6 and Fairfield on April 13.

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 10,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports partners — their teammates without disabilities. To learn more about Special Olympics or to take part in a plunge, visit www.soct.org.

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