Portlandville, NY (WBNG Binghamton) - Hundreds of people braved not only the frigid cold winds, but also freezing cold water!
Saturday was the sixteenth annual Polar Bear Plunge in Otsego County.
Most people would be scared to fall through ice, but these people are plunging into it.
Like polar bears diving into Goodyear Lake in Portlandville.
All to raise money for their local community.
"Your heart stops and you can't breathe but I raised over one thousand dollars myself, personal best, I have a big crew who does it each year," says Ed Basso of Worcester, NY.
More than four hundred people are taking the plunge this year hoping to break one hundred thousand dollars.
Last year they raised eighty-four thousand dollars, they say it's cold and it feels like pins and needles but its worth it.
The wind picked up and the water temperature dropped to nearly 30 degrees as everyone made their way onto the ice Saturday.
Two by two jumping into the freezing cold water.
"To raise money for everybody and just for the cause, and the adrenaline I guess, if one person does it then they'll just start following us," says Polar Bear diver Carly Rosegundlach.
"It's a small price to pay to be uncomfortable for a couple hours opposed to living with children who have illnesses every moment of everyday," says Organizer, Brenda Waters.
Organizers say the hole in the ice is larger this year for divers, and the weather a lot more challenging.
But that didn't stop anyone this year.
"There's always newcomers everybody says they're not going to do it again but some people come back every year they bring friends and then they bring their friends," says diver Jeremiah Waters.
"It's a great community, everybody supports everybody is helping everybody holding everybodys towel and just to know that we can accomplish something so amazing just to be a part of it I think," says Brenda Waters.
Each year the number of so called "polar bears" grows as does the amount of money they strive to raise.
The money raised will go to local hospice, children with medical issues, and some to the Milford Fire Department also.
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