Freezin' For A Reason

Don’t tell JSC R.A. Cherise Boutin to “go jump in the lake.” Chances are she will – at the Penguin Plunge, which will take place on Feb. 9 on the Lake Champlain waterfront to benefit the Special Olympics of Vermont. Approximately 900 “penguins” gather together each year to raise money for this cause.

Boutin, an R.A in Arthur Hall is raising money to take the plunge this year. The goal is to raise $525 so that R.A.s Matt Renaud and Christina Gilbert will be able to take the plunge as well. Each participant must raise $175. “Cherise has been going out and getting sponsors and everything; she’s really spearheading the whole shebang,” says Renaud.

Everyone has his or her own reason for participating in the Penguin Plunge. Some do it just to say they’ve jumped into the lake in the middle of February. For Boutin it’s a different story. “I’m doing this to support the kind of compassion and patience that is needed to work with the people who have these intellectual disabilities,”she said “and I feel that the Penguin Plunge metaphorically emulates the courage that is needed to be a person that has these disabilities, minus the social stigma.”

The Special Olympics of Vermont provides year-round sports training and competition to help them develop physical fitness and experience the joys of an active and healthy lifestyle.

Anyone looking to help sponsor Boutin, Renaud, and Gilbert should contact Boutin at extension 1112.