(Photos Courtesy Mrs. Tegan Hood)
Friends, family, and coworkers joined together this year to remember and honor the memory of Rhonda Swim Johnston by participating in the annual New River Valley Polar Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics.
Johnston, a longtime educator and supporter, fundraiser, and coach for area Special Olympics athletes, passed away unexpectedly January 2, 2024, at her home in Pulaski.
The group she normally participated in the Polar Plunge event with, known as the Pulaski County Polar Plungers, has been active for years in the event, even though Covid temporarily sidelined Special Olympic events in Pulaski County. Last year, the group was thrilled to raise $3,442.
This year, the goal was to not only raise more money for the cause, but to break records for participation and the amount raised while honoring the memory of their friend.
Saturday at Bissett Park in Radford, the largest group the team has ever assembled arrived ready to hit the water. With 30 team members registered, with at least one representative from each school. The largest contingent of participants this year came from Pulaski County Hihg School, where Johnston worked. They dressed as bee’s or beekeepers, the group raised over $23,000 total, with the top individual fundraiser being Johnston herself, as community members gave over $13,000 in honor of her memory.
According to PCPS educator Mrs. Tegan Hood, the goal is to reboot Special Olympics teams to represent Pulaski County in track and field and basketball. Johnston coached both of these sports before the onset of Covid.
“This year our team costumes were bumble bees,” Mrs. Hood stated in a Facebook post. “Every year we come up with costume ideas and for this year Rhonda suggested bees. We all throw ideas out there and then finally settle on a theme that is do-able for everyone. She sent our group chat a photo of her in a bee costume that she put together for a theme day at school. That photo sealed the deal for our team and the decision was made. Now Rhonda is forever our queen bee! I made cut outs of that photo and several of us plunged with Rhonda in one hand and a plunger in the other! True Polar Plunge fashion!”
The family of Rhonda Swim Johnston was also on hand at the event. They were present to receive the award on behalf of Johnston for being the top fundraiser.
