- By Marie Tolonen for Mesabi Tribune, Published Jan. 17, 2026
HIBBING — The Iron Range Polar Plunge is in need of teams and individuals to help raise money to support Special Olympics Minnesota.
This year’s plunge is set for Saturday, March 21, at Carey Lake beach in Hibbing. Plunging begins at noon. Shuttle service begins at 11 a.m. at the Minnesota North Hibbing Campus parking lot and runs throughout the day. Participants are encouraged to take the shuttle as there’s limited parking at Carey Lake beach.
Even if you are “too chicken to plunge,” you can help out by raising money, while enjoying the camaraderie, and helping out a good cause.
“Sadly, our numbers are lower than the last two years,” Rachael Shiek, an investigator with the Hibbing Police Department coordinating the event along with Virginia Deputy Police Chief Chad Nickila.
“We are hoping to get more attention to this special event. The USA Special Olympics Games are in Minnesota this summer and we would love to be able to help these athletes to attend/participate in these events. But we need the support from our community to accomplish this goal. We are hoping more people will sign up for our Polar Plunge, or offer their support by donating to those who are taking the plunge.”
Shiek and Nickila also coordinate the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics in June.
The local plunge joins 21 other locations where people are plunging into icy lakes this year, benefiting individuals, teams, schools, and businesses who are eager to support inclusion, community and athlete empowerment, according to a news release.
By participating, plungers will directly fund initiatives like Unified Sports, health screenings, leadership training and year-round competitions.
Participants can register for the plunge individually or as a team. Registration is free, with a minimum fundraising of $75 per participant. Fundraisers who exceed that goal stand to earn additional incentives, including exclusive Polar Plunge gear.
The goal for the 2026 Iron Range Plunge is $35,000.
In its 15-year history, the Range plunge has raised $574,470. In 2025 the 117 participants raised $29,245, according to the plunge website.
More information is available online at www.plungemn.org/events/iron-range.
About the Polar Plunge
The first Polar Plunge took place at Como Lake in St. Paul in 1998. Since then, the Plunge has expanded to more than 20 locations across Minnesota.
Polar Plunge events are hosted in collaboration with Law Enforcement Torch Run, the largest grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics in the world.
About Special Olympics Minnesota
Since 1973, Special Olympics Minnesota has been creating a new world of inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities by providing year-round sports competitions, inclusive healthcare programs, leadership training, and inclusive school programs. Special Olympics Minnesota envisions a Minnesota where every person, regardless of their ability, has every opportunity to thrive and reach their fullest potential.