Every year, students at Mayo High School take on a bold challenge by jumping into freezing cold water for a great cause, and this year is no different. On March 11th, over 100 participants will be jumping to support people with special needs. The main goal of the Polar Plunge is to raise money and awareness for people with both intellectual and physical disabilities, as well as acting as an event that can bring together some of the people that make our community so special.
The Polar Plunge supports Special Olympics Minnesota and the Unified programs at Mayo High School. Two-thirds of all money raised goes directly to Special Olympics in and around our community. These funds help provide athletic opportunities for students with intellectual and physical disabilities. Some of the sports they offer include bowling, golf, flag football, basketball, and floor hockey. The remaining one-third of the money stays right here at Mayo High School to support our Unified programs. This includes Thursday morning Unified Club time and Unified events like Homecoming, Prom, Movie Nights, and Game Nights. It also helps Unified PE classes go on outings such as bowling trips and Special Olympics sports days.
The organizer of Mayo Unified club, Colin Thomas, says that the best part of the Polar Plunge is “seeing people who might not always get the most attention in school become the center of attention for an afternoon.” He maintains that some people with various disabilities often get looked over in lots of situations, and this is a great way to support them.
Mayo hosted their first polar plunge in 2022 to “support kids with special needs and to give them a chance to be cheered on” and hasn’t looked back since, with this year being the fifth consecutive year hosting one. Currently they have raised over $7,000, which is well on their way to reaching the goal of $15,000.
The Polar plunge started off as a Nordic tradition to show bravery and toughness, but in 1993, Special Olympics Virginia hosted the inaugural plunge for the Special Olympics and raised $11,000 to benefit the year round sports training for people with mental and physical disabilities. Since then, the event has grown nationwide, with events in nearly every state, and Minnesota alone hosted 28 events and raised over $2 million dollars in 2025.
If you are interested in taking the plunge on March 11th, you can sign up at www.plungeMN.org. If you are unwilling or unable to plunge, you can still support by pledging $50 dollars and having someone else jump for you. Mr. Thomas urges anyone who is considering plunging to “get outside of their comfort zone, because that’s where amazing things happen.” https://www.plungemn.org/events/mayo-high-school-cool-school/#down
March 11th will be especially important for students in Unified programs. The Polar Plunge is a chance to celebrate students with special needs and recognize the positive impact Unified has had on Mayo’s school culture. It is their day to shine, and for the rest of us to show support. Beyond raising money, the Polar Plunge is about building meaningful friendships and creating a more Unified culture that lasts far beyond this one event.
Special Olympics sets a suggested minimum donation of 50 dollars per person. If you register now, you can use the promo code AFFINITYPLUS26 to receive an instant 26 dollar donation added to your Plunge account. This gives you a big head start toward meeting the minimum. There are only a limited number of codes available, so it is best to register soon.
If you want to plunge but the donation amount is a challenge, do not let that stop you. You can stop by the organizer’s classroom anytime to get help with the financial support side of things. Everyone who wants to participate should have the chance to do so.
The Polar Plunge is one of the most exciting and meaningful events of the year. It is cold, it is fun, and most importantly, it makes a real difference. Whether you plunge, donate, form a team, or cheer others on, you are helping support students with special needs and strengthening the culture of Mayo High School. Let us keep this tradition strong and continue building a more Unified community one plunge at a time.
Photos Courtesy of Mayo Unified Spartans
