MINNEAPOLIS – St. Thomas students took the Polar Plunge for charity Saturday afternoon, jumping into the frigid waters of Lake Calhoun to raise money for Special Olympics Minnesota.
More than 25 students jumped into the waist-deep icy water, but most chose to bend their knees and be completely submerged. Junior John Grunwaldt participated and said the frigid water provided a blast of refreshment.
“It was cold, but you get the rush,” Grunwaldt said. “It kind of knocks the air, the wind out of you a little bit.”
A safety team was on standby, and participants stayed inside heated tents and tunnels for as long as possible before jumping in the lake to prevent hypothermia. When their time came, they stepped out onto the ice and plunged into the frosty pit below.
On the beach, onlookers watched participants jump, listened to live music and ate from food trucks in the festival-like atmosphere.
Each Polar Plunge participant was required to raise at least $75 and could jump individually or as part of a team. Senior Michaela Tschida raised more than $430 dollars for her plunge.
“It’s not hard to raise money, which is awesome because you can just see how many people appreciate the good cause and want to support it,” Tschida said.
Grunwaldt raised the most money on the St. Thomas team with $790. He used social media and emailed family and friends to gather donations.
“If you do the work and spread the awareness, people are willing to donate,” Grunwaldt said. “It’s just great because that hits home with so many people – compared to a lot of other causes – that it just makes sense to donate and get involved.”
With more than 3,700 participants, the Lake Calhoun Polar Plunge raised more than $860,000, according to the event website. There are about 20 opportunities to plunge each season, and the events raised over $3.8 million last year.
Elena Neuzil can be reached at neuz3833@stthomas.edu.