VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach schoolteacher Marie Culver and her daughter, Emily, have taken part in the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Virginia for the past 27 years, raising a total of $71,000.
“You do lose your breath, but once you take that deep breath you’re good to go. And when we go under, we definitely go all the way under,” Marie said.
The duo has a strategy. “Emily and I have a little trick. We stay at the end, so we have a safe way of going in, and we have a tradition of going in and then going in again,” Marie said.
“Once you’re in there, you’ve just got to breathe. Then we give the Navy SEALs a high five. It’s just a great time,” Emily said.
Every year, Marie dresses in a different costume. “I’ve been the Statue of Liberty, I’ve been a mermaid, I’ve been a lot of things with patriotic themes — Wonder Woman last year,” she said.
The Culvers were among 1,300 costumed characters who took the icy dip to benefit Special Olympics Virginia. The event raised $1.7 million last year.
“The money goes completely to Special Olympics Virginia. Our programming is free for athletes. That includes equipment, jerseys, travel and lodging,” said Mattie Fitzgerald of Special Olympics Virginia.
There’s still time to join the frigid fun. Don’t worry if you’re a little apprehensive — Marie and Emily have your back. “Sometimes when we adopt someone, we can tell they’re a little nervous and hesitant, so we say, ‘Come on, we’ll take you in.’ We go another time to help them,” Marie said.
Always lending a hand, Marie and Emily Culver are helping Special Olympics athletes and are 'Positively Hampton Roads.'
