Hundreds dive in at Lincoln Polar Plunge to support Special Olympics Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The annual Lincoln Polar Plunge made a splash at Holmes Lake on Saturday, raising money for Special Olympics Nebraska.

Hundreds of plungers sprinted into the freezing water, all determined to turn shock into support.

“This is one of the events the Special Olympics of Nebraska is known for, and the community of Lincoln has always rallied behind it to come out and support us in a great way,” said Katie Kellar, the Vice President of Development.

Each person taking a dip had to raise at least $50 before diving in.

All of the proceeds help provide Special Olympic Nebraska Athletes with access to programs such as sports, health, education and leadership.

Kellar said their participation is up this year.

“Last I saw for registration, we are over 175 people plunging,” she said. “We hope that with the increase in plungers, there’s an increase in funds raised as well.”

Several groups dressed in costume, from Finding Nemo to Husker Cheerleaders.

It all comes as an effort to celebrate inclusivity, spirit and the community coming together.

“We’re here to support our awesome athletes and their families, because every day they are taking the plunge into our activities, participating in our programs,” said Nicole Fleck-Tooze, the Executive Director of Lincoln Parks & Recreation. “This is a small moment that we can celebrate and raise some money.”

Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Lincoln Police Department and Lancaster County Emergency Management crews all lending a helping hand, making sure everyone got to dive in safely.

“We just really wanted to give back to the community and the Special Olympics because it’s been a part of my coach’s whole life, he’s been really committed to it,” said Adyson, a Chaos Softball player taking the plunge.