VERONA, N.Y. -- Yes, they're in swimsuits, and yes, it is November. It's the second annual Verona Beach Polar Plunge, an event that raises money for Special Olympics New York.
"Special Olympics New York serves 46,000 athletes statewide, and all proceeds directly benefit those athletes to provide them with year round sports training and competition," said Special Olympics New York development specialist Kimberly Smith.
Over 250 people took part in Saturday's plunge into Oneida Lake, which is the first of eight that will be held throughout New York.
"Last year in seven plunges we raised over $600,000 for our athletes, so as you can tell it's one of our premier pledge fundraiser's for Special Olympics and our athletes," said Special Olympics New York senior development director Renee Snyder.
The fundraiser is held in conjunction with the Law Enforcement Torch Run initiative which is a nationwide campaign to benefit Special Olympics.
The weather may feel more like spring, but the calendar says it's November and that means it's time for the polar plungers to begin their dips into the cold waters throughout the state of New York. But they aren't just doing it for fun; they do it to raise money for Special Olympics. Jim Gibbons met up with some of these brave souls as they took part in the first one of the year at Oneida Lake.
"It's a lot of fun. No one in their right mind would be out here otherwise, so if we can do something that benefits other people, it's worthwhile," said New York State Police Captain Francis Coots.
Now the event may be called the Polar Plunge, but the weather was anything but. Aside from a little rain temperatures were close to sixty degrees. But you didn't hear any of the plungers complaining about that.
"I've heard in years past they've had to plow through the ice to let the plungers in, so it actually felt good when we came out of the water today," said Paula Pellizzari of Syracuse.
Though others didn't feel quite the same.
"No {laughs} it was very, very cold but it was fun and it was worth it. Come out and do it," said Mary Paul of Poland, N.Y.
Still, others can't wait for their next plunge.
"Oh we're doing one in February in Oswego, so we're ready to go again, whenever," said Michael Dimanbro of Oswego.
Certainly a warming motivation to benefit a great cause.
Last year the Law Enforcement Torch Run raised more than $34 million, a number they hope to top this year.