Special Olympics Wyoming to host cold but fun fundraisers

CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Over the next two months, beginning this coming Saturday, Special Olympics Wyoming will be holding a series of fundraisers throughout the state.

Throughout February and March... From Sheridan to Cheyenne... And Douglas to Riverton... Special Olympics Wyoming will be holding their Jackalope Jump. But where exactly did the name come from? President of Special Olympics Wyoming, Jennifer Haines, explains.

“On a national level... Special Olympics around the US, and across the globe, participates in what they call a Polar Plunge. So, many years ago... Of course, Wyoming, we’re definitely unique... Wyoming branded the term Jackalope Jump for this event. And often... There are some Jackalope Jumps throughout the state where the jackalope actually appears.”

“Really,” I asked

“Absolutely,” she responded.

Conditions can definitely vary, depending on location.

“They’re always outdoors. It is a mixture though of what people are jumping into. Some of your locations have... Actually a body of open water. Where they’ll go through and cut out big chunks of ice. And the participants will jump into those. Other sites will have what we call a ‘pumpkin’, or an ‘onion skin’. So it’s basically like a big firefighting bladder... That folks can jump into that water.”

Haines says the monies raised through the Jackalope Jump will benefit some of Wyoming’s most special athletes.

“So, Special Olympics Wyoming... We are a sports training and competition organization for people with intellectual disabilities. All of the money raised through our Jackalope Jumps stays right here in Wyoming.”

Just some of the sites for this years Jackalope Jumps are:

In Douglas at the high school on February 10th...

In Casper at the Family Aquatic Center on March 3rd...

In Cheyenne at Lions Park on March 25...

And in Laramie at UW’s Cowboy Field on April 1.

To see a full listing of dates and locations, or to sign-up, you can visit their website here: https://www.sowy.org/fundraising/jackalope-jump

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