2024 Polar Plunge to be held in memory of Tim Barrow
Courtesy Photo Boo-Boo (Tim Barrow) and Yogi Bear (Brett Burke) prepare to jump into icy water at a previous Polar Plunge held at the Sand Bar and Grill out at Long Lake. This year’s event is being held in memory of Barrow, who passed away in the fall of 2023.
Courtesy Photo Brothers Brent, Tim, and Whitney Barrow dressed up as sumo wrestlers for the Polar Plunge one year.
Courtesy Photo Brett Burke, left, and the late Tim Barrow were friends for many years. Barrow loved participating in the Polar Plunge to support Special Olympics.
Courtesy Photo Boo-Boo (Tim Barrow) and Yogi Bear (Brett Burke) prepare to jump into icy water at a previous Polar Plunge held at the Sand Bar and Grill out at Long Lake. This year’s event is being held in memory of Barrow, who passed away in the fall of 2023.
Courtesy Photo Brothers Brent, Tim, and Whitney Barrow dressed up as sumo wrestlers for the Polar Plunge one year.
Courtesy Photo Brett Burke, left, and the late Tim Barrow were friends for many years. Barrow loved participating in the Polar Plunge to support Special Olympics.
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ALPENA -- The 16th Annual Polar Plunge is just a week away, on Saturday, Feb. 17, and it's a special one.
The 2024 Polar Plunge will be held in memory of Tim Barrow, a beloved man who was excited to dress up in a wacky costume and jump into the frigid February waters of Long Lake, all to support Special Olympics.
This year's fundraising goal is $30,000, and organizer Brett Burke is happy to report that plungers have already raised about $28,000. Burke, one of the original organizers of the event, is a retired Special Olympics volunteer and coach who also taught at Pied Piper for 30 years.
"I was very involved with Special Olympics back in the day," Burke said. "I retired in 2015."
All proceeds from the Polar Plunge benefit Special Olympics, a cause near and dear to both Burke and Barrow, longtime friends up until Barrow's passing in the fall of 2023.
"Tim was my friend," Burke said. "I knew him for 38 years."
They used to dress up as Yogi and Boo-Boo Bear and jump into the water together.
"Tim was an individual with Down syndrome," Burke said. "And he really loved Special Olympics. When I first met him, he was, like, 16 .. He just epitomized what Special Olympics was all about. He loved basketball, bowling, track and field, all the different sporting events. Basketball was absolutely his favorite."
Burke said Barrow was very enthusiastic about the Polar Plunge.
"When we first started the Polar Plunge, we were having a difficult time getting people to be willing to jump," he said. "I had to jump. I jumped the first four years. One of the years, somebody mentioned, 'Why don't we get an athlete to jump?' So, at basketball practice one day, I said, 'Hey, who wants to be in the Polar Plunge with me? Let's jump together.' And Tim raised his hand right away."
So, they jumped as Yogi and Boo-Boo that year, and Barrow continued to jump eight more years, often with his brothers, Brent and Whitney Barrow, by his side. They dressed up as sumo wrestlers one year.
"They raised over $20,000," Burke said of the Barrows.
He said every penny goes toward helping Special Olympics athletes in Michigan get to and from their events, helps pay for lodging, food, and more.
"It's about the athletes," Burke added. "People are trying to outdo one another in the fundraising efforts, which is great, but I think sometimes we forget why we're doing it."
He explained why it's important to support Special Olympics.
"For many of the athletes, it's the only chance they get to compete against other cities and towns," Burke said. "Without Special Olympics, they would be denied that opportunity."
He added they also learn valuable skills and camaraderie through sportsmanship.
He said as of Wednesday, 40 plungers were signed up, but there is always room for more.
This year's Polar Plunge will again be held at the Sand Bar and Grill, 9027 W. Long Lake Road. Registration starts at noon, and the Polar Plunge itself will begin at 1 p.m. Costumes are encouraged.
"The funnier, the better," Burke said about costumes.
He will jump with Tim Barrow's nephew Chace as Yogi and Boo-Boo this year, as a tribute to Tim.
Participants are to obtain donations of at least $100 to participate, or you may donate $100 yourself to support Special Olympics.
"The community's always been fantastic about giving money," Burke added.
If you would like to donate to Burke's fundraising page for Special Olympics Michigan, visit www.classy.org/fundraiser/5157529.
There will also be a 50/50 raffle, and a "party in a sled" to be raffled off.
Burke added that the Michigan State Police are hugely involved in providing support for this event, including a dive team, promotions, and fundraising.