Will Sheriff Karl Leonard walk on fire? If raises $5K beyond Polar Plunge goal, you betcha
'You're getting waves all over your head. You're getting swamped. It's just an amazing thing. You will get drenched from head to toe. You will go under water, but it's so much fun'
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CHESTERFIELD COUNTY — Will Sheriff Karl Leonard walk on fire? He will, if his Polar Plunge donation campaign raises $20,000. Guess what? If he surpasses his $15,000 goal by $5,000, Leonard is not the only one who will take on the fiery challenge. Jeff Katz, an award-winning broadcaster and writer, promised to do so also.
On Saturday, Feb. 8 in Virginia Beach, Leonard and the Supercicles LETR, the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office Polar Plunge team, will totally immerse themselves in the Atlantic Ocean to benefit Special Olympics Virginia.
Leonard, the 2025 state chair for the Special Olympics Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run, oversees the Polar Plunge, Tip-a-Cop fundraisers, Law Enforcement Torch Run and other Special Olympics fundraising events held in Virginia.
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Special Olympics: Virginia Beach Polar Plunge
"Three-thousand people from across the East Coast come to Virginia to take the Polar Plunge each year. It's a full weekend of events. It's just a blast," Leonard said.
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According to Leonard, rescue divers from local police and sheriff's offices, the state police, the Navy and the Coast Guard form a line about 100 yards wide out about 20 to 30 feet in the ocean.
"We don't just tip our toes in the ocean. We go out and high-five the divers, come back and get out," Leonard said. "You're getting waves all over your head. You're getting swamped. It's just an amazing thing. You will get drenched from head to toe. You will go under water, but it's so much fun."
The Supercicles LETR team also has family members and friends join in on the fun to "go for the cold." Last year, they raised over $30,000.
"There are so many charities out there trying to get your dollar. I thought I'd better come up with a gimmick, something to get people to donate to me," Leonard said. "I do a challenge every year which always involves pain. I found out people like to see me get hurt. It's just a fun way to get them excited and give them a reason to donate. As if, jumping in the ocean in the middle of February isn't enough pain, I have to endure some other pain."
Three years ago, Leonard did the Paqui One Chip Challenge. He said, "I won't be doing that again, once was more than enough." The Paqui chip is made of both the Carolina Reaper Pepper, the world's hottest pepper, and the Scorpion Pepper, the world's second hottest pepper. Last year, he and Katz both got matching tattoos, the Special Olympics Virginia logo.
If the $20,000 goal is met, Leonard and Katz will walk on fire on March 7 at Special Olympics Virgina's headquarters in Henrico. It will be recorded live.
"Raising funds for Special Olympics is a cause very near and dear to Jeff's heart," Leonard shared. "He won't take the plunge, but he'll help me raise my goal. Last year, my goal was $10,000. He said, 'Make it $15,000 and I'll get a tattoo on me too.' And he did. This year, my goal is $15,000. He said, 'Make it $20,000, and I'll walk on fire with you.' People like to see us get hurt and will pay good money to inflict pain on us."
Katz is a very strong advocate for the special needs community and has been for many years. Recently he was appointed by Governor Youngkin to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. "I will indeed take that fire walk if we can raise $20,000. My daughter Julia is severely disabled and was involved with a Special Olympics soccer program which was a wonderful experience," Katz shared.
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The 2025 Polar Plunge in Virginia Beach will be the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office's 14th time participating, Leonard's 11th.
"We vote on costume themes each year, and it's always a point of contention," Leonard shared. "Everybody that participates in the plunge wears costumes. Every year, there is a group of men that wear nothing but diapers. The spectrum of costumes is amazing! It's just crazy. People need to go and watch. There is even a costume contest and parade along the boardwalk."
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This year, the Supercicles LETR team, over 25 members, will dress as Hanna-Barbera characters. Leonard will dress as Fred Flintstone. Costume themes from previous years include Star Wars, gnomes, farm animals, minions, nerds and more.
Special Olympics was founded in 1968, and it has grown from a competition involving 1,000 athletes to a worldwide movement with over five million athletes, both children and adults. Visit polarplunge.com/virginia-beach for more information.
Will Katz and Leonard walk barefoot over a bed of hot embers or stone? If Leonard's donations reach $20,000, you betcha! To make it happen, visit Leonard's plunge page at impact.specialolympicsva.org/fundraiser/5949196 to make a donation.
This story was updated to add new information.
Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly, an award-winning columnist, is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index voted the 2022 Tri-Cities Best of the Best Social Media Personality. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on X and@socialbutterflykristi on Instagram.
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