In a race where the runners are called plungers, the 2014 Brookings Polar Plunge, took place on Saturday April 5. They raised over $30,000 according to Joel Perry. 

“We’ve had over 14 state-wide and this is the fifth one here in Brookings, it’s been going on for about 20 years,” Perry said, “South Dakota Law enforcement has been putting on these fundraisers.” 

Between all of the fundraising for Special Olympics in 2013 the law enforcement raised over $565,000. This year 120 people signed up to plunge, according to Perry. The 5K and plunge into the water was part of the day full of fundraising. The polar plunge started at 12 p.m. and the run began afterwards. 

It started at Ray’s Corner with a dip in the water followed by the run. The participants didn’t have to do both, some plunged and others ran. But the option to do both was there. 

McKenzie Frank, freshman occupational therapy major, participated in the 5K. “I found out from my brother, I wanted to do a 5K and this seemed like the perfect opportunity,” Frank said. 

The title “Freezin’ For A Reason’” wasn’t just a catchy title. Frank said, “I would have done the polar plunge but it was just way too cold for that.” 

“Freezin’ For A Reason is a title that represents what we’ll do for fundraising for Special Olympics,” Mollie Hublou, sophomore global studies major. 

“The second week of May, the law enforcement will run a torch from Sioux Falls to Spearfish,” Perry said. “We do it every year and its just a way to kick everything off.” 

Perry said that this coming fall, the law enforcement is looking into doing a Polar Plunge and to ‘keep an eye out for that.’