Making a Difference: Polar Plunges raise money for Special Olympics

TULSA - You might call them crazy, but you can't question these girls' commitment.

More than 50 girls from the International Order for the Rainbow for Girls are taking a polar plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics.

This one plunge on a chilly Saturday raised at least $4,000.

"It's just really awesome to do things like this. Fun to raise money for a good cause," said Erin Vaughn with the Rainbow for Girls, who's taking the plunge.

It's one of 12 polar plunges across the state that will help pay for Special Olympics athletes like Jennifer Horton to compete.

"It really means a lot especially the money," said Horton. "It helps kids that don't have that kind of money to go do things like bowling."

And Jennifer knows all about bowling. The 26-year-old Tulsan won three medals at the Special Olympics national games.

"Bowling's been my life since I was a little girl," Horton said.

And so has her disability.

"My mind is very slow about things," said Horton.

But she also says the Special Olympics helped turn her life around.  

Said Horton, "I used to be the shy girl not speaking and what not and Special Olympics just really opened me up and made me feel confident."

A confidence that may never have came without girls like these making a difference -- even if they're a little crazy.