MARSHALL — A few years ago, Jan Mason, Boulder Creek’s assisted living director, plunged into an icy lake as a fundraiser for a new virtual field trip program for the facility.

On Saturday, Mason will jump out of an airplane at 13,000 feet to raise money for dementia.

Mason will do a tandem jump at Skydive Adventures in Luverne. The idea stemmed from a health scare she had last year.

“And in addition to that, my mom died at 59, and I turned 59 this year,” Mason said. “On my birthday, I decided was was going to try and do some things on my bucket list. One of the things was to face some of my fears. That started with ziplining over the Grand Canyon. And although it was scary, I did it, and it was exhilarating.”

So Mason was looking at what do do next. She thought about doing a tandem jump. Not only would this be a personal goal, but it would be something that can benefit others as well and turn it into a fundraiser.

“I figured I’d go big or go home,” she said.

Mason said she learned that the A.C.E. (Advocate, Connect, Educate) program lost its dementia grant that supports the region’s dementia families in many ways, which led to her final decision. A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota has a service area of eight counties.

“It gave me all the more reason” to do this, Mason said. The funds raised will help offset the loss, she said.

When she did the Polar Plunge in St. Peter several years ago, Mason said she raised a little more than $800. This time, she’s hoping to get $1 for every foot she jumps. That is $13,000, but it is only $1,625 per county to help with resources, she said.

“That’s when I decided to up the up the ante — to challenge everyone to help and try and raise one dollar for every foot I was jumping,” she said. “I know it’s a lot, but the need is high and it’s growing every day.”

Donations can be sent to Boulder Creek, 604 Village Drive, Marshall, MN 56258. Checks should be written to A.C.E.; in the memo, put “Jump for Janny.” Cash donations can be dropped off at Boulder Creek and the A.C.E. office in the Lyon County Courthouse. There will be donation buckets at Hill Street Place, Boulder Estates and the Adult Community Center. The donation will be presented at the Marshall Area Dementia Awareness Network’s Walk For Memories event on June 18 at the Red Baron Arena.

“It’s crucial, every dollar counts,” she said. “Every dollar will go to benefit the community, and all funds are kept local.”