ABOVE: From left: Mark Hernes, Kate Grogin, Cole Wiemers and Alex Odgen are organizers of the upcoming Cool School Polar Plunge at Fairmont High School.

FAIRMONT – Time to make a splash! The third annual Cool School Polar Plunge will be held beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 11. The event is hosted by Fairmont High School (FHS) and arranged by Mark Hernes.

The school strives to raise a total of $12,000. Currently over 60 participants are registered to take the ice-cold plunge, including Superintendent Andy Traetow and a range of school staff members. Both students and the Martin County community are strongly encouraged to register or donate to help reach the goal amount for the Special Olympics.

Mark Hernes is a math teacher at Fairmont High School, and has been teaching since 2001. The annual event is a testament to the passion he has for helping his students and his community.

“It’s a fundraiser to raise money, but it also increases awareness. It’s a chance for a school to join one another for a good cause. It molds more interest,” said Hernes.

Cole Wiemers is a senior at the school and this is his first year participating in the Polar Plunge. After graduation, Cole said he plans to play football at Wartburg College.

“It means that we [Fairmont] can come together as a whole and do something to raise money for people, and make their lives a little better,”Wiemers said.

Alex Odgen is also a senior and first-time participant. After graduation, she explained her plan to advance her studies at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

“I think it’ll be really cold, first of all,” Odgen said with a laugh, before going on to mention how the event speaks to Fairmont. “It’ll be a good way for me and others to experience a fun, but meaningful time. There are other people in the world, and they may need more help. But that shouldn’t make them any different.”

Fairmont has done the Polar Plunge since 2013. Before the pandemic, students were taken out of school and traveled on a bus to Minneapolis to participate in more conventional plunges. Since then, the organization introduced ‘plunge-comes-to-you’ mobile events.

“Fairmont is the biggest school in our district. Having it here makes it more accessible [for students],” Odgen noted the convenience of having the event here in Fairmont.

“…When we did these mobile plunges, we had over a hundred more plungers, allowing more students to experience it,” Hernes added.

Instead of depending on pools or bodies of water, those registered to plunge will leap into a 4-foot depth of near-freezing water, using a custom-built, movable unit–The Plungster. The mobile trailer contains a capacity of 2,100 gallons and weighs 27,600 pounds while full. Ice-cold waters won’t stop the tenacious plungers from jumping in for a good cause. However, the fundraiser itself is flexible to those who would rather not jump, providing many ways to stay involved and donate.

“It’s nice to experience walking up and diving in. You’re doing something outgoing for a good cause,” Wiemers said.

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union has partnered with the Polar Plunge to generously grant $50 towards the first 2,000 to register, mobilizing individuals and organizations across the state to take action. Both Odgen and Wiemers mentioned informing friends of the event, hanging posters and an Instagram page giving coverage to the event, in hopes of inspiring more to join. Hernes saw significant growth throughout the years and hopes the community of Fairmont can help the cause while there’s still time.

“We want to promote that no one should feel left out of anything. Everyone should feel included regardless of their abilities,” he said.

Registration for the Fairmont Cool School Polar Plunge is open for new plungers until the start of the event on March 11. Plungers are advised to bring shoes, warm clothes and a towel. Discover ways to participate in the fundraiser for Special Olympics Minnesota at plunge.mn/org.