GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — This Saturday dozens of brave souls are plunging into icy waters to raise funds for Special Olympics Wisconsin during the Green Bay Polar Plunge.
![Green Bay Polar Plunge helps raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/157bf41/2147483647/strip/true/crop/910x512+0+0/resize/910x512!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2F62%2Fd81d8e30430897d397ce1dbdc372%2Fscreen-shot-2022-02-26-at-5.43.59%20PM.png)
This year's event took place outside the Johnsonville Tailgate Village at Lambeau Field.
![Green Bay Polar Plunge helps raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/13f0c67/2147483647/strip/true/crop/938x518+0+0/resize/938x518!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff4%2F1a%2Fc35160a2473d8e19d4e2aebf1bfa%2Fscreen-shot-2022-02-26-at-5.38.16%20PM.png)
Click hereto learn more.
Winter warriors who raise at least $75 can experience this thrilling event.
![Polar Plunge](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e90a526/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6016x4016+0+0/resize/1280x854!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2F59%2Fd05d931b4d32b5dd103c1c0d25a7%2F2020polarplunge-124.jpg)
Many go far beyond the minimum donations. Those raising more can earn additional prizes including a towel, sweatshirt, hat, and VISA Gift Card.
![Green Bay Polar Plunge helps raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/653d1d9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/872x510+0+0/resize/872x510!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2c%2F86%2F649165e045e7a9b5999e0faabea5%2Fscreen-shot-2022-02-26-at-5.44.28%20PM.png)
"Invigorating. I loved every second of it. When you hit the water I did a belly flop kind of. It looked like I was flying but I was falling," said Katie, a local woman who took the plunge.
![Green Bay Polar Plunge helps raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/11d3848/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1118x630+0+0/resize/1118x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa0%2F48%2Fe1abc9584e9cbf879d83660a535f%2Fscreen-shot-2022-02-26-at-5.43.01%20PM.png)
For Brad Borchardt, also known as "Packermania" this Packers fan fundraised so much just to take part of this event.
"Starting with the polar plunge we raised over $1,000 through donations through my social media accounts," Borchardt said.
![Green Bay Polar Plunge helps raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/154af24/2147483647/strip/true/crop/898x504+0+0/resize/898x504!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F01%2F91%2Fa2ad63db493a8c80a49fe0f135fa%2Fscreen-shot-2022-02-26-at-5.43.20%20PM.png)
Decked out in green and gold he took the dive.
"I cannon balled, luckily the paint stayed on. Lost my hat a little bit but everything stayed on. It was a little bit chilly but nothing like the frozen tundra and doing it for a great cause was worth every single drop of water," Borchardt said.
Green Bay is one of eight Polar Plunge locations spanning five Saturdays across the state.
![Green Bay Polar Plunge helps raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/01f6f15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/888x524+0+0/resize/888x524!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd1%2F93%2Fe342351c47a99a6e374118efd014%2Fscreen-shot-2022-02-26-at-5.43.40%20PM.png)
For Lexy who is a Special Olympic athlete, she actually took part of one of the other plunges last week.
"It was cold, so like your body goes in shock a little with the coldness. But I think it's more of once you get out of the water that the shock really happens,” Lexy said.
Funds raised provide year-round programming in sports, health, education, and community building to change the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
![Polar Plunge](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4d428da/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x853+0+0/resize/1280x853!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F22%2F0027bf804b1aa7b4ae54ba7380e4%2Fimg-7683.jpg)
It was in 2020 that the last in-person events occurred. At that time more than 400 participants took the plunge in Green Bay and raised over $120,000 for local athletes.
In June 2022, a delegation of 96 athletes, unified partners, coaches, and staff will represent Team Wisconsin at the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida.