2011 Polar Strut

Party like a Strut Star.  Join the celebration. 

February 26, 2011
Osage Beach City Hall

Contact Information:  Diane Brimer, 573.256.6367 or dbrimer@somo.org. 

Did you know a group of polar bears is called a celebration?

How appropriate for the official party of winter!  Get amongst it plunge stars!  This “unbearable” (yes, cheesy we know) event is your chance to run or walk a 5K in the beauty of the frigid winter weather.  Now, why would you want to do that?  Because that’s what strut stars do, of course!  Anything for a shock, a good story and best of all  for a good cause. 

Really, you call this a party?

Our Polar Strut is a huge event full of music, crazy costumes and loads of laughter. You register, create a fundraising page, email your friends and family, earn great blingware and attend the official party of winter!

Doors open: 8 am
Strut: 10 am - Get the route here.
Cover charge:  we ask that you raise a minimum of $50 by the event date.

* Donations are good whether online or given to you in person (offline). If you will mail in checks made to SOMO or cash converted to money order, we'll get these donations entered and they will show up on your fundraising page. Please allow three weeks for the donations to appear after you mail. Mail to:  Special Olympics, 314 E Broadway, Columbia MO 65201.

What about blingware?

For starters, everyone who raises the $50 minimum will look very polar in their new Polar Strut shirt.  (Shirt is guaranteed if you register at least two weeks in advance.)  We reward those polar bears who are on a money makin' mission.  Prizes will be announced soon for the following levels.
$300: 
$500:
$650:  
$1000:

Is this the scene for me? 

If you can answer “Yes!” to the following questions, you are definitely ready to party:
1. Are you able to walk or run a 5k?
2. Will you raise at least $50 by the date of the event?  

Finally, we will present awards to the top 3 finishers in each age group (male and female); top male finisher; top female finisher; top SOMO athlete; and top Law Enforcement Torch Run finisher. 

I'm ready to rock it out with you, what's next?

Registration is open!  Nothing fancy or complicated here – just click the register button at the top of this page, create your personal fundraising page and email your friends and family.  Get them to join your celebration or donate to your cause.

I'm more of a wallflower.

Maybe you prefer to donate to hibernate.  From the warmth of your own home you can support the Polar Strut without all the awkward conversation and dancing that come with a party.  Click here.

Tell me more about this good cause.

All the money raised at the 2011 Polar Strut supports local Special Olympics athletes.  Sure, we’re all about year round sports training and competition, that’s our mission.  But the words of parent Nancy Chettle show our program offers even more, “My son would tell me he wanted friends.  How does a mom make people understand her son who has a mental disability, let alone find him friends?  All that changed the day we found Special Olympics.” That’s what you are doing, helping us use sports to foster inclusion and acceptance.  If that doesn’t make you a strut star, then nothing does.

The life of the party

The Polar Plunge, Super Plunge and Polar Bear Strut are a few of many events hosted by law enforcement to benefit their charity of choice, Special Olympics.  This year’s hosting agency is Osage Beach Police Department