Polar Plunge Nets St. Cloud Special Olympics Over $85,000

(KNSI) – Over $85,000 was raised as part of Saturday’s Stearns County Polar Plunge to benefit the St. Cloud Special Olympics.

Lisa Edelbrock volunteers with the organization and also went into the chilly waters of Middle Spunk Lake. She says it can seem daunting but braving the plunge is mostly a mind game.

“You can intimidate yourself but once you jump in, it’s not so bad. You’re cold for a little bit and all you can think of is, ‘Get out of the water, get out of the water, get out of the water!’ and then you’re done.”

It was the first time the St. Cloud Special Olympics has held the event behind the Fisher’s Club in Avon, but probably not the last. Edelbrock says things went well with 315 plungers taking part.

“We do a lot with the law enforcement. That’s who kind of sponsors this. I was chatting with them before and I chatted with them after, and they were very happy with that number. So, get a lot of people out and it was a good show up for everybody and a lot of fun.”

Edelbrock says she has now taken the plunge twelve times.

The funds will go to programming for the athletes. It is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for the Special Olympics.

___