Feb 16

Feb 16 Plungers brave negative wind chills to raise more than $200K

(THE MED CITY BEAT) - This year's Polar Plunge in Rochester raised $210,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota.

KROC-AM reports a total of 862 people participated in the 14th annual event, about the same as last year. Participants were given the option to jump Friday because of Saturday's bitter cold, but only 60 showed up, the station notes.

The wind chill was 20 below when participants took the plunge Saturday. But KAAL-TV reports organizers took every precaution, even providing heated changing tents and tunnels for the participants.

"Seeing all the people coming together, it's a crazy thing, it's something your mom tells you - 'don't ever do something like this,'" said Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson, according to a report by KTTC-TV. "But they come together and they form teams and it's just fantastic."

Two local couples also used the occasion to "take the plunge." The Post-Bulletin reports both Hiyas and Scott Quelle, and Jennifer and Joseph Reynolds renewed their vows in a ceremony conducted by Mayor Ardell Brede.