This Sunday afternoon, however, the Fort Dodge Police Department is inviting the community to dive into its Polar Plunge fundraiser for Special Olympics Iowa at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.

“Special Olympics is a great nationwide organization and we’re just really happy to be able to support Special Olympics Iowa,” said Jeremey Moore, administrative technician for the FDPD. “We’re just continuing the tradition of raising funds for these great athletes.”

Moore said there are a lot of Special Olympic athletes in the Fort Dodge community and the department enjoys showing its support through events like the Polar Plunge, the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser at Dunkin’ and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

During this year’s Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser in August, the FDPD was the top fundraising department in the state, bringing in more than $3,300.

-Messenger file photo
In a clash of comic-book titans, Superman (Jacob Cook) spars with Captain America (Austin Andrews), while Alex Dischler as Batman and Collin Ellsbury as Spider-man go at it in the background. The students from Dodger Senate not only showed up in costume, but staged a superhero battle to support the 2017 Polar Plunge.

The FDPD has a goal to raise $10,000 during the Polar Plunge. As of Wednesday evening, the department was nearly half of the way to that goal.

As of Tuesday, Moore said, there were four teams registered for Sunday’s Polar Plunge. While teams and participants are encouraged to register online, there will be on-site registration on Sunday morning.

The goal of the event is to support Special Olympics Iowa, but it’s also to have fun. Participants are encouraged to dress in costumes, Moore said.

As part of improvements being made at Badger Lake, the lake has been drained. So instead of running down the beach and into the lake, plungers will jump right into a traveling tank provided by Special Olympics Iowa.

“After everyone’s done taking the plunge, we host a post-plunge party there in the shelter building,” Moore said. There will be food, music and door prizes. There will also be prizes for best costume.

To pre-register or to make a donation, visit https://www.classy.org/campaign/2022-fort-dodge-polar-plunge/c416417.

For the record, Sunday’s high temperature is expected to be 32 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

IF YOU GO

Sunday, Nov. 13

John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, 1415 Nelson Ave.

On-site registration and check-in

11:45 a.m. — 12:45 p.m.

Plunge

Starts at 1 p.m.

Post party

Starts immediately following the plunge.