Tim Leeds Havre Daily News tleeds@havredailynews.com
For the second year in a row, people took to ice water in Havre to raise money for Special Olympics Montana, with astounding results. Havre Police officer Derek Mahlum, Sub-Zero Super Hero Polar Plunge event coordinator, said the number of people jumping into a pool of ice water jumped from 30 or 35 people last year to 117 this year, and the money raised grew from about $4,500 to $21,420.65 so far. “Never in my wildest dreams did I hope it would get that high,” Mahlum said today. The money will be used to support Special Olympics Montana, a nonprofit organization that provides a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Polar Plunge, which has been running for about nine years in some locations, primarily supports local chapters. Mahlum said 60 percent of the money raised in Havre will stay in the area, perhaps being used to buy equipment for local athletes or to pay for their travel to training or the state Special Olympics. He said there was one disappointment at the event: Customs and Border Protection personnel were planning to bring a helicopter to land at the Town Square where the plunge was held, but the helicopter was being used in an operation elsewhere and could not be brought in. “My apologies to everyone who came down to see that,” Mahlum said. Many people did attend. Mahlum said the number watching the plunge, where people jumped into the ice water after raising donations and pledges for Special Olympics, brought some 200 to 300 people; this year, he said, it was pushing 500 or more. Teams from several counties also participated, including teams from the Havre Police Department, Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Havre Fire Department, Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, the Chinook Police Department, the Hill County Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Havre High School Key Club, and businesses including NOVO 1 and Tire-Rama. The top single earner for the second year in a row was Ron Gleason of Chester with $1,265, Mahlum said. Gleason earned about $500 last year. The top team was the Havre Police Department with $4,037. Mahlum said he hopes the program continues to grow. This year, the top earning Polar Plunge was in Missoula with about $56,000, while Whitefish came in second with about $40,000. Bozeman and Helena were next, followed by Havre. Havre with its $21,420 placed higher than Billings, which raised about $18,000, and Great Falls, which raised about $12,000, Mahlum said. He added that he would like to give Missoula, which has been doing the plunge for some time, a run for its money in upcoming years. “My goal is to double the amount raised this year,” Mahlum said. “Every year we do this event we try to do it bigger and better. I would like to see us near the $40,000 mark next year.”
