Support the Plunge – Help Melbourne Inner East Make a Difference!
This July, our amazing team at Special Olympics Melbourne Inner East is braving the cold for a cause that warms hearts. We're taking the Polar Plunge to raise funds that directly support athletes with intellectual disabilities in our local community.
Your donation helps us provide year-round sports, inclusion, and empowerment for our athletes. From training and competitions to friendships and confidence-building, every dollar makes a real impact.
Together, we can create a more inclusive world, one chilly splash at a time.
Please donate today and help us reach our goal!
#ChooseToInclude #MelbourneInnerEast #SpecialOlympics #PolarPlunge
Our Achievements
Reached 50% of Fundraising Goal
Reached 100% of Fundraising Goal
Thank you to our Sponsors
$264
Roslyn Allen
$264
Antoinette Gredig
Happy to support Soecial Olympics, and you Ed taking a plunge and raising funds to give people with intellectual disability/autism opportunities to play sport, experience joy and belong
$211
Anonymous
You’re awesome Dean
$150
Carluccis Of Templestowe Restaurant
From the staff of CARLUCCI'S RESTAURANT!! ALL THE BEST!!
$127
Pavone Family
Go Emanuel and show your strength!! Love Zia Angela, Zio Sandro and Milana Pavone
$127
Rosanna Pingitore
Proof of you! :)
$127
Melissa Stehr
Love your commitment Luca. Good on you for stepping up and being brave.
$127
Margaret Watson
Keep up the good work Luca I know you will do well.
$127
Chris Lykoudis
Well done Harry! Proud of you as always. Love Christopher & Joelene
$127
Anonymous
$120
Kate Sav
Well done Harry - marvellous work xx Kate and Charlesy
$120
Jenny Joe
Wow that’s awesome Luca!
$106
Anonymous
$106
Jaci Van Steekelenburg
Go Dean and Team! So proud of you!! 🩷
$106
Geoff Diamond
I'm cold thinking about it !!
$106
Terry & Mel Mcmahon
Go Chrissy and enjoy your cold dip
$106
Michelle Harrower
What an inspiration Ed and team, You've got this!
$106
Anna Andrikopoulos
Couldn’t be prouder of your want to fundraise for Special Olympics. Love you always Yiayia and Angel Papou xx
$100
Sue Dodds
GO MIE athletes
$100
Michelle Repacholi
Proud of you Lachie ❤️ 👏
$100
Dad
Proud of my big man!
$100
Nonni Pingitore
Wishing you all the best
$75
Belinda
Amazing work as always Sarah!
$61
Yolande Phillipson
Congratulations Luca on all the work you do for Special Olympics. You are a true champion.
$59
Danielle Linzel
Way to go Dean!
$59
Susan Trompenaars
Good on you Dean! Can’t bear the thought of you without hair so might have to start a GoFundMe page for a troupe!
$59
Rachel Miller
You are such an inspiration Ed! Absolute legend 👏👏👏
$59
Marie Butler
Good luck Harry & thankyou for supporting SOA👏
$59
Dymke/pietsch
Go Celeste
$59
Lisa Dawkins
Go Chrissy! We're so proud of you ❤️💦 Lis, Andrew, Chloe & Will xxx
$59
Graeme And Gaylene Burt
Proud of you Dean
$59
Stevan Morrow
Great work Dean and Team xx
$59
Netkamon & Justin Burt
$59
Jessi Fries
Great work Dean, you’re a legend — you have a big heart and maybe a big head that we will all see soon!
$59
Anne Cherny
to the incredible MIE Polar Plunge team - don't freeze and good on you.
$59
Margaret Watson
Good Luck Luca we know you can do this love from Margaret & Ken
$59
Margaret Kralt
Can’t wait to see the shaved head.
$59
Janine Van Raay
$59
John Mitsinikos
Go Harry and team, great work
$59
Cheree Dodkin
$59
Emma Pollard
Awesome job and great cause!
$59
Sophie Pahor
Woohoo Ed !! You will look forward to a hot shower after.
$59
Randy Linzel
$59
Parisi Family
Go Emmanuel!! Stay warm!
$59
Mark Tierney
Wishing you all the best with the icy swim! Glad to be able to support your cause
$59
Luke Bovo
You are fantastic guys for doing this.
$59
Annelise Ball
Go Jasmine!! xo
$58
Maria Marson
$57
Janine Hamilton
You are an absolute star ⭐️
$55
Anonymous
$55
Mandy
Go Jasmine, I’m so proud of you and I’ll have the towel and your clothes ready to help you get warm. Good on you for raising money for such a great cause.
$55
Anonymous
All the best
$55
Fiona Moore
Plunge away for a great cause Harry. See you there!
$55
Oziel
Good luck! Great cause.
$54
Lulu Aston
Super proud of you Ed 🥰🥰🥰
$54
Tim Allen
Go Ed xxx
$54
Pingitore Family Xxx
You’re a champion Emanuel!
$54
Lucas Sencek
Proud of you mate!
$54
Zach Sencek
You continue to amaze me Bro! Keep it up’
$54
Mark Hammond
You guys are crazy!! Good luck
$54
Support 4 You
Proud of you Emanuel 💪
$50
Cally
Go Ed & go Team MIE!
$50
Ruby Walsh
So so proud of you!!!! Well done 💕💕💕
$50
Cally
Go Dean & go Team MIE!
$50
Cally
Go Haz & go Team MIE!
$50
Cally
Go Harry & go Team MIE!
$50
Cally
Go Jasmine & go Team MIE!
$50
Cally
Go Lachie & go Team MIE!
$50
Cally
Go Luca & go Team MIE!
$50
Cally
Go Primrose & go Team MIE!
$50
Cally
Go Sarah & go Team MIE!
$50
Kayley Ward
You are a super hero Luca
$50
Cally
Go Celeste & go Team MIE!
$50
Cally
Go Chris & go Team MIE!
$50
Cally
Go Emanuel & go Team MIE!
$50
Dean Linzel
$50
Nonna Cimino
Very proud of my grandson.
$50
Sebastian Barney
$50
Julia Botham
$50
Harrison Sencek
$50
Sarah Hamilton
$50
Biberias Family
All the best Harry! We love you! ❤️
$50
Celeste Rattray-wood
$50
Emanuel Cimino
$40
Karen Silberberg
Good luck Luca - an amazing initiative! From Karen at Inclusion Melbourne
$35
Luca Giannessi
So brave Celeste! Really pleased that I have a friend to do it alongside!
$33
Ben Cole-de Witt
Hi Harry, That is very brave of you to jump into the bay for this cause! Well done! From your friend, Ben
$29
Matthew Hamilton
Go Sis!
$28
Katherine Carson
$28
Leanne Castle
Let’s do this! We’re in this together 👍🏻
$28
Christina Paraskevas
Good Luck and Go Melbourne Inner East🥶🧊❄️☃️⛄️
$28
Christina Paraskevas
Good luck Luca on the Polar Plunge⛄️☃️❄️🧊🥶 on Saturday July 26 From Christina
$28
Christina Paraskevas
Good luck Primrose on the Polar Plunge⛄️☃️❄️🧊🥶 on Saturday July 26 From Christina
$28
Nana And Popa
You have our support Jasmine. Love your commitment to such a worthy cause.xx
$28
Celeste
You are amazing luca
$28
Robin Pennington
Try to enjoy it Harry ! 😆
$28
Andrea Sheffield
$28
Sarah Brown
Good luck Jasmine. Hope you have another successful plunge!!
$28
Harry Tymms
Brrrrr good job
$28
Leon Iera
Go Luca! Great effort mate, all the best with it.
$28
Matt Volk
Go Harry! You’ll be freezin’ for a reason!
$28
Sam
Great job Luca!
$28
Lina Romero
So proud of you !!!!!
$28
Juan Gabriel Gallardo Garavito
Only you could combine the bravery of a Canadian ice fisherman with the calm and charitable way of a Thai monk and make it look like a noble act of charity while looking like an Abercrombie & Fitch model jumping into freezing water and shaving your head? That’s either dedication or an attempt to look hotter while freezing lol Wishing you all the best for the plunge! Big love to you and your amazing cause! #ColdPlungeHotHeart #FreezingForAReason #BaldMonkKenFreezingBuddha
$28
Penny Burns
Good luck Dean!
$28
Anonymous
Light the darkness with your kindness - Thank You!
$28
Matt Volk
Luca you are a superstar of Special Olympics Athlete Leadership and the mighty MIE of course. Have a great Polar Plunge!
$28
Anne Cherny
Go MIE POlar PLunge Team. so sorry i can't jump into the freez'n water with you, but Lil will represent our family really well. Thanks Lil.
$28
Dael Cook
Fantastic cause Dean - best of luck
$28
Samuel Michael
$28
Olivia De Bruyn
$28
Mildred Garcia
Good on you Luca! Your friends at After 4 are very proud of you! All the best!
$28
Rosemany Ritchie
You gotta be crazy doing it again🤪 from your mother
$28
Alciia Hoyt
$27
Charles
$25
Lachlan Wadsworth
$25
Tyla Chapman
Go Celeste !!
$25
Harry Mezger
$25
Janene Syme
Very brave Luca
$25
Chris Mcmahon
$25
Edward Allen
$25
Anonymous
$25
Meagan Murdoch
Go Deno! Miss you!
$23
Harry Sencek
Can’t wait to do The Polar Plunge with you Jas! Your friend Haz
$23
Jasmine Hose
I am so proud of you Dean you are amazing
$23
Katelin Tucker
Go Luca!! :)
$23
Primrose Ritchie
A friend from master Swimming
$23
Sarah
Have the best time Haz! 🫶🏼
$23
Sarah
Good on you for Braving the cold again!! Proud of you Jas 🫶🏼
$23
Gary And Helen Tennant
Take an extra plunge for Helen and I, Harry. 🥶
$23
Gary Tennant
Go Primrose! Plunge and be merry for you are doing a wonderful, brave challenge.
$23
Luca Giannessi
Good on you Lachie! So proud!
$20
Philippa Swain
Go you good thing!
$20
Louise
$17
Daniel Vadnjal
Well done Luca for jumping off the police boat today. You are a wonderful ambassador for your club. Always a welcoming smile and a little chat to your fellow athletes. .
$17
Tommy Giannessi
Good 😌 👍 😊 luck 🍀 Luca, Really did a good 😌 👍 😊 job today You deserve it everything is coming your way so well done 👍 all the best I’m going to cheering 📣 support crew for you and the team mate, Keep up 🔝 🆙 ⬆️ the good 😌 👍 😊 work you are a legend I’m sure 👍 you worked hard for your swimming 🏊♂️ 🏊♀️ 🏊 cold 🥶 polar plunge
$17
Emilee Egan
Good work!
$17
Tracey Shugg
Go Luca, the office superstar!
$17
Luca Giannessi
Let's do this!
$17
Luca Giannessi
That is so brave of you Harry! Good luck!
$17
Luca Giannessi
Good on you Sarah! Have a great time!
$15
Chloe
Good on you legend !
$15
Chloe
Good on you Legend ! 😊
$14
Luca Giannessi
Well done Jasmine! I am so proud to call you a friend! Good luck!
$12
Jasmine Hose
I am so proud of you Emanuel
$12
Bonnie
Great job Jasmine. You’re very brave!
$12
Jasmine Hose
I am so proud of you harry
$12
Jasmine Hose
I am so proud of you harry
$12
Jasmine Hose
$12
Jasmine Hose
I am so proud of you Sarah
$12
Jasmine Hose
Well done Luca I am so proud of you
$12
Luca Giannessi
Well done Primrose!
$10
Sally Baldry
How exciting for you to do this plunge again !!!
$8
Primrose Ritchie
Another person kindly donate it in my mom‘s current facility
$7
Luca Giannessi
Good work Harry! So happy to hear that you are doing it for the first time!
$6
Primrose Ritchie
A person that I met has given me his donation from the nursing home, my mum’s currently located in😊👩
$5
Katie Spencer
Good luck Jasmine! I hope you keep warm!
Our Team Members
Luca Giannessi
$1,026
Primrose Ritchie
$414
Jasmine Hose
$322
Dean Linzel
$1,775
Edward Allen
$911
Harry Mezger
$696
Harrison Sencek
$538
Sarah Hamilton
$240
Lachlan Wadsworth
$223
Celeste Rattray-wood
$247
Chris MCMAHON
$156
Emanuel cimino
$733
Our Fundraising Journey
Go Ed