Cavanaugh raises funds for Special Olympics

CORNWALL — A little cold water doesn’t scare Julie Cavanaugh. Make that a lot of icy water.On Feb. 4, she plans to jump into Highland Lake in Winsted as part of the Penguin Plunge, a fundraiser for Special Olympics held across the colder parts of the country each winter.Cavanaugh lives in Cornwall Bridge. She competes in swimming on a local team, and in the Special Olympics in cross-country skiing, track and field, bowling and, you guessed it, swimming. She volunteers in the recreation department at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Geer Adult Day Center in North Canaan and at the Cornwall Library.Unfortunately, swimming ability isn’t going to be much of an asset at the Plunge. “I just have to run in and out and be able to stand the cold,” she said.It will be her fifth year. She has not set a fundraising goal, but said it would be nice to increase the amount of money she raises each year. Two years ago, she raised $1,600; last year, it was $2,300. Anyone interested in supporting the cause and her swim can send a check made payable to Special Olympics CT (Winsted Penguin Plunge in the memo), to PO Box 66, Cornwall Bridge, CT 06754.

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