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Holly Holm first took the “plunge” five years ago when she and a cousin jumped into the frigid, icy waters of Pelican Lake in Breezy Point for the Polar Bear Plunge, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Minnesota.
And the rest snowballed from there.
Holm, a Brainerd resident, plans to participate Saturday in the sixth annual Polar Plunge, her fifth jump into the icy water. This year she will be joined by 22 female relatives, ranging in age from preteens to their 60s. Her “bucket list” item of a Polar Plunge jump has turned into a large family reunion where they spend the weekend together at a rental house at Breezy Point Resort. She’ll also be joined by a friend, Mary Kempton of Baxter, a first-time plunger.
“The men aren’t really invited,” Holm joked of her male family members. “It’s a good time. There’s definitely not a shortage of laughs, that’s for certain.”
Holm, who works for the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, said she is often asked if the water is cold during the plunge.
Her answer?
“Yes, obviously,” Holm said with a laugh. “It’s really not that bad. You’re only in the water for five or seven seconds.”
Holm said at her first Polar Plunge a Special Olympics athlete came up to her and thanked her for doing this. That’s what makes her return each year.
“It was really a good feeling,” Holm said. “I guess that sort of sucked me in.”
The Polar Plunge, coordinated by area law enforcement, will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Breezy Point Resort. Registration time is 10 a.m. to noon with a costume contest at noon. Prizes for costumes will be awarded to Best Team, Best Female, Best Male, Youngest Plunger and Oldest Plunger.
Participants often plunge in teams and raise money by asking for pledges. Each plunger must raise at least $75.
Registration forms are available at www.plungemn.org or (800) 783-7732 or by picking up forms at area police departments, area chambers of commerce, Brainerd Fire Department, BL Broadcasting or Breezy Point Resort.
At the 2010 Polar Plunge, 296 plungers raised $55,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota. More than 200 are now registered for Saturday’s event.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
Comments (7)
Add commentWake up CWC fair board!
55 G's raised in 2010.And I bet they did not have a beer garden at the bottom of that plunge!
Me thinks the CWC fair board could learn by example.
just 296 people raised that money!
Coordinated by area law enforcement, GREAT STORY!
They didn't have a beer
They didn't have a beer garden, they served hot toddies instead.
beer
4TGOG, have you ever been to this event? It is held directly in front of a bar, so technically, your correct, there is no bar at the bottom of the lake. Half of the plungers have a drink in their hands while waiting in line to jump, yet somehow it continues to be a great, fun, family friendly event that raises a lot of money for a very worthy cause. You should join us this year, maybe have a beer or two, and cheer on the fine folks who help contribute to the Minnesota Special Olympics.
Proud of you HOLM!
It has been 5 years already, huh? Seemed like yesterday that I joked that you and Jo were nuts! Although this jumping into the ice cold water of MN is not for me, I made my pledge and think this is fantastic how this has grown so large for your family! Others could definitely get on board and learn something from your example! Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi, Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi!!!
Wake up CWC fair board!
You don't need a beer garden! You should raise money at actual physical bars like the Marina at Breezy Point!
I sent my donation to Special Olympics
npe13747, A bar is exactly the place one should go to have their drink. Better yet if that bar is surrounded by the area law enforcement.
I'll pass on the invite, but I will be cheering those plunging while I have a root beer at home in a nice warm jacuzzi.
Way to go Holly
What a great story. Not because they raise so much money, even though they do, but lots of people get behind Special Olympics and Law enforcement and work as a team to get something accomplished. Perhaps if you would quit whining about the beer garden and get behind the Fair board and try to help out in fundraising, they wouldn't have to sell beer.
I'll be right behind you Holly in the cold water. Special Olympics rocks and their motto, Let me win and if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. The attempt gets it done.
Go polar plunge.