Fifty participants took the Polar Plunge on Sunday during the annual fundraiser held for Special Olympic athletes. This year Hatter's raised more than $15,000 and will have another chance to plunge this summer following the open ceremonies of the 2026 Special Olympic Canada Summer Games in August during the city's inaugural Solar Plunge.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
The community came together Sunday to raise more than $15,000 for Special Olympics Alberta athletes during the annual Polar Plunge hosted by the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Fifty individuals, including local first responders, police officers, members of the South Alberta Light Horse Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, nurses, EMS, a Special Olympic athlete and members of the Medicine Hat Tigers made a splash into a pool of cold water outside Athletic Park.
Participants of the Polar Pludge jump into a pool of cold water, one at a time, before heading to a nearby hot tub and portable sauna to warm up.
Melanie Keller, wearing a witch’s hat, said she decided last week to take part and formed a team with her coworkers, who all dressed up for the cause.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Keller while sitting in the hot tub after her jump. “It was very cold, colder than I thought.”
Mallory Iffy also got a shock when she jumped into the water.
“Water was colder than I thought it would be,” she joked, still wet after the event. Iffy, who coaches local athletes on the Special Olympics swim team, raised more than $1,000 for Special Olympics and was the top donor of the event.
“So for my athletes, I figured I would jump in for them.”
Luke Thorifbert, a local EMS who jumped in backwards, says the cold wasn’t as bad as he’d expected.
“It’s a good event, a good cause and the form I was going for was more for a relaxed kind of vibe,” said Thorifbert. “My back took most of the shock, the cold wasn’t too bad.
The annual event, which takes place across the country, raises funds for Special Olympic athletes and supports transportation, equipment and sporting gear, as well as training facilities.
Organizers say the success of events like the Polar Plunge that support the Special Olympics are crucial for athletes’ enjoyment and success in their sports.
“It’s incredible to see the support throughout the province, and especially Medicine Hat, too,” said Stephanie Gulley, program co-ordinator with Special Olympics Alberta. “It’s really important and the money really goes to all areas that will help them enjoy their sports that they love.”
Gulley says typically the Polar Plunge, which is the Law Enforcement Torch Runs signature event, occurs in freezing weather conditions outdoors.
However, much of the province has been enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures, leading to a larger than normal participation rate.
“We love this festival atmosphere and more people stayed to watch everyone plunge and partake,” Gulley added.
Funds raised this year will go directly to support Alberta athletes who will represent the province in Medicine Hat in August at the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.
If you missed out on taking a dip Sunday, there will be another opportunity to dive into cold water, however this time it will be under the hot summer sun during the 2026 Special Olympics opening ceremony.
“We are really proud to be hosting a Solar Plunge in Alberta,” said David Allen, with the Law Enforcement Torch Run. “This will be the first ever Solar Plunge in Medicine Hat.
Details on the Solar Plunge still need to be hashed out but plans are to have a large pool with a mixture of ice and water to dive into following the ceremony, with all funds going to support Special Olympics.
“And we’re jumping in for the first day of the Special Olympic Games,” said Allen, who hinted the event would run after the official torch run.
The city will welcome more than 1,700 athletes, coaches, officials and thousands of family members and friends for the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games from Aug.11-15.
