The Sayville Athletes Helping Others is once again gearing up to take a plunge and hopes local residents will join them tomorrow to raise funds for the Connetquot Special Olympics held in May.
The 2013 Olympics event is extra special this year as three Sayville high school students (Meghan LaBelle, Logan Hillery and Ashley Daigle) have qualified for the games.
The student group will be participating for the second consecutive year in the Town of Brookhaven Polar Plunge taking place tomorrow, Sat. Dec. 15, with registration from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai.
It’s just one of many activities the Sayville Athletes Helping Others participate in during the year, according to club president Jordyn Nadler. The club was founded in 2011 by club advisors, Robert Hoss and Suzanne Hoss with the mission to give back to the community.
“Athletes are typically looked up to and are seen as role models in the eyes of the younger children, so the Hoss' gifted us with a club that would allow for teammates to come together, and do something to benefit our local neighborhood,” Nadler told Patch.
Last year the club delivered meals to needy families on Thanksgiving morning, and volunteered at a Sports Authority coat drive. In return, the store gave the group a donation to shop in the store to buy holiday gifts for children spending the holiday time at local hospitals.
“In addition, we also sang Christmas carols in the emergency room at Brookhaven and created Valentine's Day cards, alongside the sick children on St. Valentine's,” said Nadler, adding the club also runs its own events, such as a floor hockey fundraiser and a fundraising badminton tournament.
“Our club was proud to participate in last years "Every Child's Dream Dinner", brought to Sayville high school for the first time. All of our athletes had the opportunity to feed 600 homeless people a Christmas dinner that they could only dream of. We talked with the adults, and played with the children and the experience was an eye-opener, to say the least,” recalled Nadler.
Last year, at the Cedar Beach Polar Plunge, the club raised the most funds of all the clubs which participated.
“We hope the community will join us and come plunge for a great cause. Even if people are not willing to go into the water, they can still raise money and come support those that do,” said Nadler.
To sign up, participants can become a part of the Sayville AHO team by clicking here.
Once on the site, click through “register here” to select the team which is listed under Sayville Athletes Helping Others.
Every Plunger that raises $125 receives an official Plunge sweatshirt, raise more money and receive more great prizes.
Special Olympics New York has 55,698 athletes training and competing year-round in 22 Olympics-style sports.
