They take groups of kids on overnight trips. The coaches at Independence Park and elsewhere do so more than coach sports. I don’t know where we’d be without them.” And now she’s getting invited to birthday parties and sleepovers. Now she has friends-peers her age and ability level. Now, we know all these families that are like us. “They’re basically our second family,” Folan says.
Now, Emma smiles a lot, and her self-confidence is blossoming. When her family joined the Special Olympics group at Independence Park more than eight years ago, it drastically changed their lives. She participates in nearly a dozen different sports and especially loves horseback riding, as well as swimming and snowshoeing-interests perfectly aligned with Polar Plunge.īut Emma’s involvement extends way beyond sports, says her mother. Her team raised more than $8,000.Įmma Burkhart, wearing some of her Special Olympics medals, with her mother, Erin Folan.Įmma is one of more than seven thousand children and adults with intellectual disabilities who train and compete in Chicago Special Olympics annually. Emma brought with her a team of 27 supporters, including six of her coaches, three fellow athletes, and lots of friends and family. Emma’s mother, Erin Folan, says that Emma especially loved hearing people cheer and that the cold water was simply part of the fun.
Emma Burkhalter, an 18-year-old Special Olympics competitor, was one of them. Many in attendance were inspired by Justice Burke’s participation: “It was extremely special to know what she has accomplished, beyond being co-founder of Special Olympics, but also as a leader and a mom and (Illinois) Supreme Court Justice-and then jumping into really cold water!” says Kevin Magnuson, President of Chicago Special Olympics.įor some of the other Plungers, the whole event, which raised $1.6 million this year, felt like a party. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore, and Alderman Ed Burke share the honor of being the first participants to run into the icy waters.
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