Chad Underwood’s introduction to Special Olympics Illinois came at age 12, competing for the Chatham Chargers in Region H. It led to attending various events over the next few years.
By Randy Kindred
Chad Underwood’s introduction to Special Olympics Illinois came at age 12, competing for the Chatham Chargers in Region H. It led to attending various events over the next few years.
One was the LETR Polar Plunge.
“He said he wanted to plunge,” said his father, Kim Underwood. “I said, ‘Well, you have to raise some money.’”
The Underwoods decided to draw upon Chad’s affinity for running. They incorporated a 5K run in conjunction with the Springfield area Polar Plunge, calling it “Chad’s Run to the Plunge.”
He was 15 at the time and now, at 35, the event is going strong. This year, the Underwoods surpassed $10,000 for the first time, raising $10,034.
The first year, Polar Plunge organizers selected Chad to be the first to plunge into Lake Springfield. That remains true today, though typically three or four others go in with him.
How is the water?
“Cold,” Chad said. “I like the cold water.”
The event is held the first Saturday in March. Kim Underwood said occasionally heavy equipment has been used to remove ice from the water.
So yes, it’s cold.
At the same time, Chad Underwood feels warm inside. He is helping fund an organization that has benefited him for more than 20 years.
“It is good satisfaction,” he said.
Chad’s Run to the Plunge raised $2,500 the first year. Kim Underwood said the total soon jumped to $6,000 annually and has continued to grow. The money is raised through participants and sponsors secured by the Underwoods.
“I have Chad sit down and he’ll write all the envelopes,” Kim said. “We mail out a flyer. We still do it the old-fashioned way. We’ll mail that out and we’ll have a return envelope with the address.
“When it’s all done, he sits down and writes thank-you notes — usually a picture of him and a postcard-type deal. Everybody who donates gets a thank-you from him.”
That normally means writing about 50 thank-you notes.
Chad doesn’t mind.
“It’s a good feeling,” he said. “It’s something I know is part of it.”
Chad keyboards 80 words a minute with no mistakes. He has worked the past two years for the Illinois Department of Revenue, performing data entry. Prior to that, he entered data on State Police accident reports for four and a half years.
He attended Chatham Glenwood High School and still competes for the Chatham Chargers in basketball, track and field, and bowling.
His involvement in sports and the Polar Plunge make him a familiar face in the Springfield/Chatham area.
“It seems like anywhere we go, somebody comes up and they know him,” Kim Underwood said. “It’s not necessarily other special athletes, but their siblings, their parents, or teachers or somebody like that.”
Perhaps some have participated in Chad’s Run to the Plunge, the Polar Plunge, or both. What would the Underwoods say to others about organizing fundraisers?
“I would encourage them,” Kim Underwood said. “It’s kind of like a golf outing. Once you get one done, you have the footprint there.
“I think it’s always nice when you can get into fundraising, especially when you help a cause like this. It supports a lot of athletes statewide.”
