Rochester Polar Plunge two-day event kicks off Friday

(ABC 6 News) – The Rochester Polar Plunge presented by Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will kick off its two-day event on Friday.

The Super Plunge will start at 2:00 p.m. with plungers beginning their quest for 24 plunges in 24 hours. Meanwhile, the mass plunging event and opening ceremonies will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The event will take place at Foster-Arend Park and beach located just north of 37th St. NE and East River Road NE.

This year’s event is the 22nd year put on by local law enforcement consisting of the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Medical Center – Rochester, and Rochester Police Department along with the Special Olympics Minnesota and the Rochester Flyers Special Olympics.

As of Thursday morning, there were 912 plungers registered for this year’s event with a goal of $260,000. In 2022, the plunge raised $250,699 with 663 plungers.

The Rochester Plunge to date has raised $3,648,438 in its previous 21 years starting in 2002 when 35 plungers raising $660.

In 2018 the plunge hosted a record of 1108 plungers. The record fundraising year was 2020, right before COVID-19, with 896 plungers raising $294,313.

Minnesota law enforcement will be hosting 22 plunges in 2023 with Special Olympics Minnesota.

Minnesota Law Enforcement Torch via the Plunge and other fundraisers throughout the year support the activities and events that Special Olympics athletes participate in year-round.

The Rochester Flyers Special Olympics team has over 300 athletes and countless volunteers and coaches who help the Flyers compete in sports from swimming and basketball to bowling, bocce, golf, track/field, and many more.

For more information on the 2023 Rochester Polar Plunge including a full schedule, CLICK HERE.