The “Holli’s Hope” Polar Plunge for Special Olympics team—tutus and all— at the Duluth event. The hardy Polar Plungers raised $3,500 for Special Olympics. They are (L-R) Bryann Bockovich (front), Linda McClellan, Jodi Johnson, Brianna Houglum, Kelli Goldstein, Jenna Volkmann, Sara Gale, Bryant Norgaard, Jessica Norgaard, and Lollie Cooper.
For the third year, Bryann Bockovich of Grand Marais and her friend Linda McClellan of Elk River, MN, participated in the Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics. This year they recruited a number of friends and family members to take the chilly dip into Lake Superior with them.
Bockovich said this year’s plunge was the coldest one she has taken part in—windy and snowing. Joining Bockovich and McClellan in the cold in the Duluth harbor on Saturday, February 15 were Jodi Johnson, Brianna Houglum, Kelli Goldstein, Jenna Volkmann, Sara Gale, Bryant Norgaard, Jessica Norgaard, and Lollie Cooper.
The group took part in the Polar Plunge as part of the team, “Holli’s Hope,” put together by Holli’s mom, Linda McClellan. Holli is an award-winning Olympian. She recently won a gold medal in Special Olympic bowling.
Each Polar Plunge participant is not only required to dive into frigid water—through a 2-foot-deep hole cut in the ice!—but they also must raise a minimum of $75 each. “Holli’s Hope” did much better than that, they raised $3,500.
Bockovich said they greatly appreciated the support from friends and family, as well as a few local businesses—Lake Superior Trading Post, Hughie’s Tacos, Security State Insurance, Grand Marais Pharmacy, and Joynes Department Store.
The Polar Bear Plunge—presented by Minnesota law enforcement as part of the year-round Law Enforcement Torch Run® events to benefit Special Olympics—is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations and businesses to support Special Olympics athletes by jumping into wintery Minnesota waters. It consists of 16 different events that take place across Minnesota during the coldest months of the year. From January through March, the Polar Bear Plunge crew travels around the state to 16 different communities with one goal in mind: raise funds for Special Olympics Minnesota!
Overall the Duluth event had 920 participants and raised $191,000 for Special Olympics.
Asked if she will do it again, Bockovich said, “Yes—and I’m hoping to get all the plungers with me too!”
Want to learn more about the Special Olympics or about how you can take part in the Polar Plunge?
Visit www.plungemn.org.
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