A file photo of the Utah Jazz Bear made an appearance at the Special Olympics Polar Plunge on Friday March 3, 2023.
HYRUM – The popular Polar Plunge is on, said McKenzie Martindale, an essential elements teacher at Mountain Crest High School. She is scrambling to find volunteers and donations to help with the Polar Plunge to be held on Friday March 1, from 2 to 4 p.m.
“It is happening, at least we are trying to make it happen,” she said. “In order to have a Polar Plunge it costs money.”
The money earned goes to Special Olympics, but when they have all the expenses that go with it the money going back to the organization shrinks.
“Last year we had a goal of $10,000 and we made about $8,000 to $9,000,” Martindale said. “We have the same goal of $10,000 this year.”
Martindale has been teaching at Mountain Crest for six years and has been involved with the Polar Plunge for three years. She has seen the good that money does for the Special Olympics program.
“We are looking for a sponsor to cover the cost running the Polar Punge,” she said. “It was a lot of fun last year.”
Area high schools are serious about helping their kids with disabilities and they all have several activities to make them feel a part of their schools. Some participants strip down to the bare essentials; others dress in costume to splash into the icy cold water.
The temperature is forecast to be in the low 50’s on the day of the plunge and the water is generally an icy 38 degrees. There should be hundreds of people supporting friends, teachers and administrators plunging into to the icy waters.
Warming tents are on hand to help the participants warm up and paramedics are usually on hand to make sure safety comes first.
Here are some ways people can help:
1. Donate to a team
2. Sign up to plundge
3. Businesses or personal individuals you can donate to cover the costs. What are the costs? Using Hyrum Dam, cutting the ice, and water rescue crew.
4. Do you offer one of the services above? Will you donate all or part of your service?
5. Share this information
The Polar Plunge will be at the north end of Hyrum State Park boat dock from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Additional information about the event can be found here.