The annual Polar Plunge Winter Festival to
benefit Virginia Special Olympics takes place
Saturday afternoon in Virginia Beach, but one
participant will be taking the plunge from
halfway around the world.
Steve Costa will participate in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge from the snowy mountains of Afghanistan. (Courtesy of Steve Costa)
Courtesy of Steve Costa
Costa and 10-20 other willing participants will
take the plunge in a 10-by-three foot pool he
purchased for his own "Freezin' for a Reason"
campaign under the snowy mountains in Bagram.
(Courtesy of Steve Costa)
Courtesy of Steve Costa
Costa participated in his first Polar Plunge last
year, and promised his team that he would not
miss this year's event. (Courtesy of Steve Costa)
Courtesy of Steve Costa
Steve Costa is a civilian working with the
Marines in Afghanistan. Prior to leaving for his
tour in October, Costa served as a Stafford-based
Special Olympics coach for a team called Area 11.
(Courtesy of Steve Costa)
Courtesy of Steve Costa
"While they're doing it in Virginia Beach, I'll
be doing it in Afghanistan," says Costa.
(Courtesy of Steve Costa)
Courtesy of Steve Costa
So far, Costa's campaign, "Freezin' for a Reason"
has raised about $4,000. (Courtesy of Steve
Costa)
Steve Costa plunged into the pool on a rainy, 34-
degree day in Afghanistan four times to be sure
that donors got their money's worth. Twelve
people in all took the plunge and there were
around 100 spectators. (Courtesy of Steve Costa)
Courtesy of Steve Costa
Steve Costa plunged into the pool on a rainy, 34-
degree day in Afghanistan four times to be sure
that donors got their money's worth. Twelve
people in all took the plunge and there were
around 100 spectators. (Courtesy of Steve Costa)
WASHINGTON – The annual Polar Plunge Winter Festival to benefit the Special Olympics of Virginia takes place Saturday afternoon in Virginia Beach, but one participant will be taking the plunge from halfway around the world.
Steve Costa is a civilian working with the Marines in Afghanistan. Prior to leaving for his tour in October, Costa served as a Stafford-based Special Olympics coach for a team called Area 11.
Every year, Area 11 participates in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge in Virginia Beach, an event that raises funds for a calendar year of events and activities for the Special Olympics of Virginia.
Costa participated in his first Polar Plunge last year and promised his team that he would not miss this year’s event.
“While they’re doing it in Virginia Beach, I’ll be doing it in Afghanistan,” says Costa, who manages the sustainment, maintenance and survivability upgrades for all Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles in the Combined Joint Operations Area.
Costa and 10 to 20 other willing participants will take the plunge in a 10-by-3- foot pool he purchased for his own “Freezin’ for a Reason” campaign in the snowy mountains in Bagram.
So far, Costa’s campaign, which has its own fundra ising webpage, has raised about $4,000.
WTOP’s Kathy Stewart contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter.
