With the help of hundreds of Idahoans bold enough to take on the January waters of Lucky Peak, Make-A-Wish Idaho raised over $100,000 to bring hope to kids facing critical illness.

Make-A-Wish Idaho’s Annual Gebert-Arbaugh Great Polar Bear Challenge is more than just a fundraiser — it’s a long-standing Boise tradition. The idea for the challenge was dreamt up 22 years ago by Larry Gebert and Gary Arbaugh, media personalities and dedicated members of the community.
Andrea Sanders, the Chief Development Officer of Make-A-Wish Idaho, noted that there are 130 kids statewide who are qualified and awaiting having their wishes granted in 2025.
“When you think about the money raised, but then translate it into how many wishes it’s making possible — that’s where the impact piece comes in,” Sanders said. “The average cost of a wish is $7,500. Granting wishes for these children provides much needed hope and joy at a critical time to help them expedite their recovery.”
The Great Polar Bear Challenge greeted participants with free donuts and hot coffee to prepare them for their icy plunge. Attendees were able to participate in two lighthearted contests — one for the crowd’s favorite costume and another for the best mustache.

After the contest winners were announced, the crowd was introduced to Christian Lim, an alumnus of the Make-A-Wish Idaho program. Lim was diagnosed with a critical illness at 16, prohibiting him from playing his favorite sport — football.
“I became the videographer for my highschool football team since I couldn’t play anymore as I went through treatment. I really fell in love with it,” Lim said. “When Make-A-Wish asked me what I wanted I thought – ‘You know what? This might help me find my new dream’. I got to go on an electronic shopping spree and get all the stuff I wanted to make my own [videography] business and start it up.”
At 20, Lim now runs his own digital content business based in Eagle, Idaho, under the name CSL Films. He currently is focusing on car photography, wedding cinematography and creating lifestyle content.
Lim emphasized that the message he wants to share is that pain is always temporary and eventually will be overcome. He artfully compared it to the experience of entering the freezing cold water that morning at the Polar Bear Challenge — though the chill may seem painful at first, it will pass with time.

The countdown began at 11 a.m. as the crowd gathered on the beach of Lucky Peak’s Spring Shores Marina. Excitement and fear glowed on the faces of participants as they ran into the chilly waters.
Dahlia Rose Thompson, standing at just barely three feet tall, was among the youngest participants taking their first plunges. With the help of her father, Thompson had raised nearly $900 for Make-A-Wish Idaho’s mission.
When asked about how she felt about the event, Thompson described it as “fun”.
“You know, the cold is just a mindset,” Emily Borgman, member of the Idaho Nursing Student Association, said after she plunged into the water. “This is all for the kids. It’s really awesome, especially giving back to people who really need it.”
Marni Henderson said she felt “invigorated” and “alive” after plunging into the ice-cold water.

“[The Great Polar Bear Challenge] is meant to support people living life to the fullest, especially when they face adversity,” Henderson said. “We’re always stronger and more magical when we come together as a community.”
While plunging into freezing waters may seem to be a daunting task, The Polar Bear Challenge has quickly become a powerful symbol of the community’s unwavering commitment to providing glimmers of hope to children in need.
Feeling ready for a plunge? The next Make-A-Wish Idaho Gebert-Arbaugh Great Polar Bear Challenge is tentatively set for Jan. 10, 2026.