The EGHS Unified Volleyball team before the 2014 plunge at Goddard Park.

A plunge in New England in March was never going to be billed as easy, but after the winter we’ve had, this year’s Project Unify Plunge has taken on an extra degree of difficulty. So, our local plungers are looking for all the help they can get.

Actually, the original plunge was going to be in February at Goddard Park. Sanity prevailed when the weather did not cooperate and the plunge was moved to March 21. Recently, the site of the plunge was switched to Salty Brine State Beach (with Goddard still alarmingly icy).

Athletes from the Cole Middle School Unified Basketball team and the EGHS Unified Volleyball team will be taking the plunge, as will a few intrepid adults, including Adam Scott, the Cole team’s coach (and Cole science teacher).

“For our Unified Basketball team at Cole, Special Olympics RI pays for the uniforms, officials, bus transportation to our away games and our end-of-the-year party during our 6-team round robin tournament,” said Scott recently. “We have a great group of athletes and partners on our team and I really love being involved with this team.”

Unified sports join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Special Olympics has fostered Unified sports both in schools and in its own sports programs.

Coach Scott has led the way in fundraising and Cole is currently the top fundraising school, for both middle and high schools in Rhode Island. You can find his page here.

Or donate to one of the EGHS athletes. You’ll find their team page here. (Confession: I am going to be plunging in place of my son James, a Unified athlete.)

If you are looking for an inspiring activity on Saturday, head down to Salty Brine State Beach. The plunge takes place at 1 p.m.