Hundreds take plunge into freezing Holmes Lake for Special Olympics Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – As temperatures dipped as low as 23 degrees, more than 200 people plunged into Holmes Lake on Saturday morning for a good cause.

Lincoln’s annual Polar Plunge is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Nebraska.

Caroyln Chamberlin, president and CEO of the nonprofit, said it’s all about funding sports, health, education and leadership programming for kids with disabilities.

“I think the beauty of this event is it gives someone something fun and crazy to do on a winter day in February, but it also says that people with intellectual disabilities matter and that they deserve the same opportunities as everybody else,” she said.

The event was personal to one group participating, the Nebraska Aviators.

Nick Wieskamp and Evan Flamme said the money raised allows them to play multiple sports with the kids they work with.

“We compete in basketball, track and bowling,” Flamme said before he took the plunge. “You can see the excitement and enjoyment that they truly feel competing, and it makes it all worth it. I would jump in the lake three times today just to raise money to allow them to do that.”

The plunge only took a few seconds for each person, and Lincoln Fire & Rescue was standing by to ensure everyone’s safety.

“It’s my first time, so I’m a little bit skeptical of dunking my head but I think I’m going to try it,” Wieskamp said.

Afterward, the two said it was freezing but worth it.

“The wind was brutal,” Wieskamp said. “It was incredible.”

Flamme walked back his earlier statement.

“I don’t think I could’ve done it three times,” he said. “I changed my mind; it was colder than I thought.”

But despite the cold, they said they’d do it again next year to keep supporting the cause.

There will be two more Polar Plunges in Nebraska this year, in Scottsbluff on Feb. 24 and North Platte on March 9.