Special Olympics - Melbourne Inner East

07/08/2025

Happy Birthday Shu-Lin C, Michael C, Fiona D, Ian J, Mark J, Wade M, John R, Barbara S, Erin Y, Stephen S, Jerome H, Katrina S, Maryellen A, Manahil M, Carlee M, Adam C, John C, Mimi V, Addison W and Alice B! To all our athletes born in August, we hope you are very spoilt!

01/08/2025

Dean, Chair of our Special Olympics - Melbourne Inner East club, delivered on his promise in spectacular fashion!

When Melbourne Inner East smashed both the club goal AND his personal fundraising target for the 2025 Polar Plunge, there was only one thing left to do... lose the locks!

27/07/2025

A huge thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Polar Plunge. With your help, Melbourne Inner East raised an incredible $7,820 to support our athletes.

We were proud to join 183 plungers across 27 teams at South Melbourne Life Saving Club, contributing to a record-breaking $80,000 raised overall by for Special Olympics.

The cold didn’t hold anyone back. Our very own Luca Giannessi helped launch the event in true Polar Plunge style, jumping into the ocean alongside Acting Deputy Commissioner, Chris Gilbert.

One of the biggest cheers of the day went to our very own Chair, Dean Linzel, went above and beyond… and bald. He shaved his head on the beach as well as plunging into the icy water - all to raise money for our athletes.

The creativity was just as impressive as the courage, with plungers dressing up as everything from superheroes and Vikings to witches hats and Where’s Wally.

Thank you to everyone who donated, dressed up, braved the cold or cheered from the sidelines. Your support means everything.

See you next year! 🥶

27/07/2025

Polar Plunge 2025 - what a day! 💙❄️

Here’s a quick recap of the icy, inspiring madness that saw over 180 plungers and 100+ athletes, carers and police officers take the plunge!

A huge thank you to everyone who showed up, dressed up, and stepped up to support inclusive sport in Victoria. You make the difference.

27/07/2025

A huge thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Polar Plunge. With your help, Melbourne Inner East raised an incredible $7,820 to support our athletes.

We were proud to join 183 plungers across 27 teams at South Melbourne Life Saving Club on Saturday morning, contributing to a record-breaking $80,000 raised overall by Law Enforcement Torch Run - Victoria, Australia for Special Olympics Australia.

The cold didn’t hold anyone back. Our very own Luca Giannessi helped launch the event in true Polar Plunge style, jumping into the ocean alongside Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner, Chris Gilbert.

One of the biggest cheers of the day went to our very own Chair, Dean Linzel, who went above and beyond… and bald. He shaved his head on the beach as well as plunging into the icy water - all to raise money for our athletes.

The creativity was just as impressive as the courage, with plungers dressing up as everything from superheroes and Vikings to witches hats and Where’s Wally.

Thank you to everyone who donated, dressed up, braved the cold or cheered from the sidelines. Your support means everything.

See you next year! 🥶

09/07/2025

Wishing our athletes born in July a very Happy Birthday! Best wishes to Thomas B, Anne C, Isabel F, Carly M, David H, Emeil R, Akash M, Daniel M, Christian G, Tyson H, Harry M, Amelia T, Lachlan S, Aaron P, Mia T and Jasmine H!

26/06/2025

At MIE, we create safe, inclusive spaces for athletes with intellectual disabilities to grow, compete, and connect through sport and friendship.

We’re 100% volunteer-led, and every dollar helps us run training, competitions, social events, and support programs.

Make a tax-deductible donation today: http://bit.ly/3T6O94l

Even a small gift can make a big difference.

23/06/2025

💈 The clippers are ready... almost!
Dean Linzel, Chair of Special Olympics - Melbourne Inner East, is just $600 away from hitting his $2,000 fundraising goal — and if he does, his head is going BALD!

Every dollar supports the incredible athletes of Special Olympics - Melbourne Inner East. Let’s make this happen together 💙

👉 Donate here: https://include.specialolympics.com.au/fundraisers/deanlinzel/pp-mel-25

👉 Join Team MIE to plunge: https://include.specialolympics.com.au/register/pp-mel-25

💦 Preparations are well underway for 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐮𝐧’𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 🥶, and registrations are 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 in 🏄🏼‍♂️!

While we haven’t yet been given a sneak peek at the all-important costumes (not for want of trying), word on the grapevine has it that the head honcho of Special Olympics - Melbourne Inner East, Dean Linzel, has thrown down a frosty challenge of his own ...

💈 If Dean hits his $2000 fundraising mark, he’ll shave his head —a brave move in support of the athletes of Special Olympics Victoria and Special Olympics Australia with an intellectual disability. Very cool, Dean .... 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦.

❄️ Ready to make a polar splash? ❄️

Get involved and register now to join the 20 teams and 67 brave participants (and counting!) in the Torch Run 2025 Polar Plunge 🥶. So far we've raised more than $16,000 towards our $75,000 target 🎯.

Take the plunge and support the athletes of Special Olympics Victoria and Special Olympics Australia with an intellectual disability.

It’s cold, it’s bold, and it’s all for an amazing cause!

To register and start fundraising, head to 👉🏻
https://include.specialolympics.com.au/event/pp-mel-25/home

To support Dean in his bid to lose his locks, donate here 👉🏻 https://include.specialolympics.com.au/fundraisers/deanlinzel/pp-mel-25

Still not sure? Then check out the great pictures from last year's Polar Plunge:
https://www.flickr.com/.../1296.../albums/72177720319486791/

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10/06/2025

Hands up if you are loving this short week!

07/06/2025

💙❄️ This July, Special Olympics Melbourne Inner East is taking the plunge, literally, for the LETR Polar Plunge, and we need your support to make it count!

We’re braving the icy waters to raise vital funds for our incredible athletes with intellectual disabilities. Every donation helps us provide more opportunities, more inclusion, and more moments of joy through sport.

🤝Joining our team and sign up to plunge: https://bit.ly/PolarPlungeMIE

💙Donating to our team. Every dollar goes towards empowering Special Olympics athletes in our community: https://bit.ly/PolarPlungeDonations

(Please ensure you select Team Melbourne Inner East when registering or donating)

Thank you for your support!

03/06/2025

Today we wish a big Happy Birthday to our June babies! Best wishes to Randall A, Edward A, Glenn L, Kate S, Matt O, Gareth D, Andrew R, Laura F, John M, India B and Adam H!

02/06/2025

🌟 A Huge Thank You to Quantum Traffic! 🌟

We’re incredibly grateful to for their generous donation of nearly 800 containers to Special Olympics Melbourne Inner East through the Victoria Container Deposit Scheme! ♻️👏

Your support helps us continue to provide inclusive sporting opportunities for our athletes, every container truly counts. Thank you for being champions of both sustainability and community inclusion!

👉 Want to support us too?
You can donate your container refunds directly to our club.
🔗 How to donate your containers: https://mailchi.mp/specialolympics/donaterefund