Roller Derby Girls take a Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics!

The first time she guested on Geek To Me, Windy City Rollers Manic Attacker Val Capone told us about how she came up with her derby name.  The following week, she shared pics of the creation of her team's new car, the 'Manic Mobile.'  Today, Val shares her recent experience taking a 'polar plunge' this past weekend!  Yeah, that's just crazy. Brrrrrrrrr:

Windy City Rollers' Val Capone

One of the best parts about being a Windy City Roller is supporting the community that supports you.  Anyone who has ever met me knows of my deep seeded love for any and all things Chicago, so whenever the call goes out to work with the Community Outreach committee of the Windy City Rollers I try to always lace up the skates and help.

Recently, the WCR participated in the Polar Plunge, benefiting the Special Olympics.  This is our third year taking the Plunge as a league; Doris Day of the Dead, part of the WCR Officiating Staff, is the only one of us ridiculously brave to have done all three.  This year, she was joined by yours truly along with Bork Bork Bork, Dame Over, Meg Gyver, Notorious D.I.E., Poppy Spock, Reina Chaos, Schocka Conduit, Slammah Montana, T.S. Helliot, Tamikaze, Zombea Arthur and non-WCR member but avid supporter and friend to Slammah, Elizabeth Kaiser.  In total the Windy City Rollers team was able to raise $5, 123.41 for the Special Olympics. 

All in all we were fairly lucky that it was a beautiful 51 degrees at plunge o'clock and that the water itself wasn't what I would call even remotely warm, but also not bad.  The wait, if anything, was the worst part because I just wanted to get in that lake.  The whole place carried an amazingly positive vibe, what with all the various costumes of fellow plungers, the loud booty shake inducing music blasting from randomly placed speakers and the various folks that were cheering us on.  In fact, a fan of the Rollers did the run along the beach with us and filmed the whole thing, while his two kids cheered us on from a safe distance (Thanks Jeff!). 

Watch the video our facebook page!

It was so much fun getting caught up in all the mayhem and joy that I had to get under the water, up to my helmet, before I got out of the lake.

I highly recommend experiencing the Polar Plunge at least once in your life, because it was exhilarating to say the least...and not just thanks to the frigid water hitting me with a shocking hello.  A few emails to friends, family and colleagues, add one quick jump into freezing temperatures can really make the difference for so many, so why NOT sign up?  Not to mention the wearable trophies in a long sleeve tee and suh-weet towel we were greeted with as we left Lake Michigan for warmer grounds.  As far as I know donations are still being accepted, so be like your favorite roller girls, throw on a helmet and donate to the Polar Plunge to make a difference today-Lake Michigan jump not required!  I can guarantee that I'll be doing it again next year, alongside my league mates, join up alongside us Rollers...if you dare.

Donate to the Windy City Rollers charity fund by clicking here!