Polar plungers raise funds for Special Olympics of North Dakota

Dustin Scott, an employee with the City of West Fargo, dressed as the Riddler from Batman, and his co-worker, Rick Bruns, dressed as the Joker, participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025. — Dustin Scott, an employee with the City of West Fargo, dressed as the Riddler from Batman, and his co-worker Rick Bruns dressed as the Joker, participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

By Chris Flynn

March 29, 2025 at 6:09 PM

WEST FARGO — Participants plunged into an icy pool of water on Saturday, March 29, to raise funds for Special Olympics North Dakota during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at The Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo.

The day was overcast, with temperatures in the mid-30s.

Plungers raised a minimum of $100 to take the cold leap. Some participants came dressed as characters from Batman and Power Rangers, while others wore matching outfits or even dressed as a hot dog.

Many of the polar plunge participants wore costumes to jump into the ice-cold water at the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Contests and awards included:

Most Money Raised by an Individual
Most Money Raised by a Team
Youngest Plunger
Oldest Plunger
Best Costume
Best Belly Flop

A polar plunge participant does a back flip into the water at the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Law enforcement leaders and Brie Burkhardt, a Special Olympics athlete, gave out scores after plungers jumped into the water.

The proceeds from the event go to supporting the year-round competition and sports training for Special Olympics North Dakota athletes.

Fargo firefighter Aaron Lordeman participated with his son and his daughter in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Polar plunge participants raise a minimum of $100 to jump into the water at the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Recruits from the Fargo Police Academy Class 8 participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Cameron Willson, right, and Alec Gulseth, of the Fargo Police Academy Class 8, participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Brooke Filipi, with EAPC Engineering and Architecture, plugs her nose as she plunges into the water at the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

A polar plunge participant wears a cape as he jumps into the water at the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025

Participants plunged into an icy pool of water to raise funds for the Special Olympics of North Dakota on Saturday, March 29, 2025, during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at The Lights in West Fargo. A woman plugs her nose as she jumps into the water. — Participants plunged into an icy pool of water to raise funds for the Special Olympics of North Dakota on Saturday, March 29, 2025, during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at The Lights in West Fargo.

A Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge participant does a canonball into the icy water on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at The Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo.

A polar plunge participant dives into the water at the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Rick Bruns dressed up as the Joker for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Lights and Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

By Chris Flynn

Chris Flynn is an audio/visual journalist at The Forum. He graduated with a bachelor’s in online journalism from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Flynn has worked at Forum Communications since 2008. Reach him at cflynn@forumcomm.com or 701-451-5773.

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Polar plungers raise funds for Special Olympics of North Dakota

Plungers jumped, dove and belly-flopped into ice-cold water on an overcast day in the mid-30s to raise funds for Special Olympics North Dakota.