09-02-2025
Polar Plunge raises more than $270,000 during snow showers
Feb. 8—ROCHESTER — The annual Polar Plunge is one event where organizers and attendees are not afraid of cold temperatures and a little bit of snow.
The 24rd annual event, hosted by Special Olympics Minnesota, was held on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2025, at Foster-Arend Park in Rochester. The event had more than 900 participants and raised more than $272,000 for the Special Olympics.
"We're right about our goals for participants and fundraising," said Emma Fiedler, special events manager for Special Olympics Minnesota. "They've been holding steady around that number for a couple years now. Great turnout in Rochester. The community is just amazing."
Of the 900 participants, many signed up prior to the event and went with a group of friends. But not everyone signs up prior to the event. Rochester always tends to have a few people who sign up the morning of the event.
"Believe it or not, we actually have probably the most (day of registrations) at the Rochester location out of everywhere," Fiedler said. "They see our event set up throughout the week, or just hear about it day of or the day before. We have some paper forms and usually we get probably about 20 to 30 people that decide at the last minute."
The event encourages participants of all ages and experience levels and this year was the first time for many of the participants.
Justin Maroun likely would never have signed up on his own. Maroun, an employee at Mayo Clinic, was talked into it by hiss boss, Dr. Stephanie Heller, who'd signed him up. Despite his nerves, he enjoyed the experience.
"I was a little nervous," Maroun said. "We finished the jump, but going out was the hardest part. Actually walking out was the hardest, then you hit the water and it's over. It was a nice shock."
With his friends and work colleagues close by, the camaraderie and overall experience was the highlight for him. The actual jump wasn't as bad as he imagined.
"Just have fun with it," Maroun said. "The more fun you're having right before, the less you're thinking about."
Many of the participants continue to show their support year after year all over the state. Special Olympics Minnesota works closely with businesses and law enforcement to set up and operate each year's event.
"We have 22 polar plunge locations for lake jumps," Fiedler said. "Polar Plunge is the biggest fundraiser for the Special Olympics. So we just love people getting here, being cold, doing good, and just raising the funds to support our organization. It's just so fun to see people out here."
Longtime Polar Plunge participant Bill Cleveland was participating in his 23rd Polar Plunge.
"I've only missed the very first year," Cleveland said. "My wife's a Special Olympics swim coach, so she got me into doing this, and the Masonic Lodge joins me, and we've been jumping for years. We've raised almost $80,000 in that time period."
This year Cleveland took the plunge with three others from the Masonic Lodge. For Cleveland, the mild snow showers added something to the event. The water is more painful to jump into at warmer temperatures for Cleveland, so he was glad to see colder weather.
Throughout the 23 years he's experienced the event, Cleveland has learned a few things. The first year taught him and his wife a very important lesson: The less clothing you have on, the better.
"It was like five below zero, the temperature, and the wind was blowing," Cleveland said. "My wife and I wore our graduation gowns, and they froze on us. They just turned into big sheets of ice hanging on us."
The event helps raise money for something Cleveland and his wife are passionate about supporting. And it gives Cleveland some nice bragging rights. He is excited to continue his tradition in the years to come.
"The adrenaline rush is amazing," he said. "You feel so good about it yourself after you get done with it, not just because of the adrenaline, but because you helped so many people out."
