2015 -- H 6262

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LC002729

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND THANKING THE RHODE ISLAND SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUPER

PLUNGE TEAM

     Introduced By: Representatives O`Grady, Casey, Azzinaro, and Giarrusso

     Date Introduced: May 28, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Super Plunge is an event that increases awareness and attention for the

Torch Run Plunge. Both events are held in support of Special Olympics Rhode Island. The Super

Plunge is quite similar to the Torch Run Plunge except for one key difference, instead of

plunging into bitterly cold water a single time, the five members comprising the "Super Plunge"

team do so once per hour for a 24 hour period; and

     WHEREAS, From 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 21st, through noon on Sunday, March

22nd, 2015, Elwood Johnson, Jim Cummings, Eric Leclerc, Rick LaBreche and Bo Matthews

plunged every hour, for a total of 24 plunges, at Salty Brine Beach, in frigid water that never got

above 33 degrees and with an air temperature that did not get above 34 degrees. These brave

members of the Super Plunge team raised $45,100 for the more than 2,800 athletes that make up

Special Olympics Rhode Island. They were the top fundraisers for this event; and

     WHEREAS, Elwood Johnson, a volunteer for Special Olympics Rhode Island for twenty-

five years, started the "Super Plunge" three years ago. His idea took off and brought much needed

attention and awareness to the needs of Special Olympians. He soon garnered the support of Jim

Cummings, a Special Olympics volunteer for more than twenty-five years, Bo Matthews, a

veteran "plunger" from Blackstone, Massachusetts, and Eric Leclerc and Rick LaBreche, both

fathers of daughters who are Special Olympic athletes. Eric and Rick also both coach their

daughters and other members of the Special Olympics team, the Lincoln North Stars; and

     WHEREAS, The Special Olympics is a charity that provides athletic competition for

children and adults living with intellectual disabilities. It provides a safe haven for these children

and adults where they are accepted and not judged because of their disability. It challenges its

members to be the best they can be and truly changes lives for the better; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors Elwood Johnson, Jim Cummings, Eric Leclerc, Rick

LaBreche and Bo Matthews for their support of Special Olympics Rhode Island as members of

the "Super Plunge" team; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Elwood Johnson, Jim Cummings, Eric Leclerc,

Rick LaBreche, and Bo Matthews.

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