The weather wasn’t quite “polar” Saturday, but those running into a large hole cut into Hallet’s Pond still felt a cold sting, particularly when they emerged to a steady breeze.
Molly Egan, who works for Special Olympics and is one of the Polar Plunge organizers, said 281 participants were registered, about what they see every year.
“It’s our biggest fundraiser. We should take in about $60,000 today.”
Special Olympics has 20 plunges across the state, which raise $5.3 million each year.
“It’s always fun to see everyone out here having fun. You see a lot of the same faces each year,” Egan said.
Because the ice has deteriorated recently from the warm weather, participants didn’t venture out onto the ice and jump into a hole cut into the pond. Instead, a large area was cut open at the shoreline to allow people to run in from shore, take a plunge and run back out.
Matt DuRose, deputy director of public safety in Mankato was at the plunge with a group of 16 Mankato fire and police personnel.
“We started doing it in 2008. We missed one COVID year, otherwise we’ve done it every year,” he said.
“It’s really one of the most fun days we have. People dress up, have a good time and it’s a good cause.”
DuRose said they’ve seen every type of weather, from bitter cold to fairly warm.
Scott and Amelia Williams, of North Mankato, along with some of their kids and friends were donned in Vikings gear as they took the plunge.
The outfits were a tribute to Scott’s son Marcus, 24, a big Vikings fan who died just two days earlier. He had suffered from multiple mental health issues.
But the family has other reasons they participate.
Amelia’s son Joshua was born a healthy baby but then stopped breathing when he was an infant, in what was diagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. He had stopped breathing for about 30 minutes but his heart was revived at the hospital.
“They said he wouldn’t survive the flight to the Twin Cities, but he did. They said he couldn’t live beyond age 7 but he did,” Amelia said.
Joshua died 1 ½ years ago at age 28. He was non verbal throughout his life and faced many surgeries and emergency room visits.
“He was the toughest person I’ve ever known,” Amelia said.
Scott has been doing the Polar Plunge for 10 years, and Amelia and their kids started doing it after the two met and married.
Amelia’s brother is special needs and has participated in the Special Olympics, further adding to the family’s ties to the plunge.