During a typical year, without a pandemic, the Special Olympics would hold polar plunges across the country to help raise money for their athletes to compete. For safety reason, the organization decided to offer smaller "Polar Pop" events in it's place.
Here in Schuylkill County, businesses like Ehrlich in Pottsville have been raising money for the Special Olympics to hold their own Polar Pop.
Chris Ebling, the Sales Manager for Ehrlich, has a child on the team and headed the fundraising that led up to Saturday morning's event.
Approximately 50 people that included Ehrlich Employees with their families and Special Olympic athletes gathered to join in on the fun.
9 employees from Ehrlich and Special Olympics Sports Leader Mark Mamrosh braved the cold and took a balloon over the head that was popped by the athletes as temperatures lingered near freezing at the time of the event.
When extra balloons were available, the athletes had fun getting payback to Ebling and Mamrosh as they took multiple balloons over the head.
In the end, it was all for fun for a good cause.
Ehrlich had raised $500 through the event with other donations coming in from Skook Auto Sales, Hydro, and the North Ward Social Club as well as individual fundraising efforts.
