Thousands of brave souls plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan on Sunday morning, and it was all for a good cause.
The annual Polar Plunge Chicago, benefitting Special Olympics Illinois, attracted more than 4,300 individuals to the shores of Lake Michigan on Sunday morning, with participants diving into water that was a chilly 35 degrees, according to organizers.
NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago were well represented at the Polar Plunge Sunday, and Regina Waldroup caught up with Jenn Schanz at the lakefront.
The annual event is put on by Special Children’s Charities, and many of the participants wore colorful costumes and outfits to help raise awareness for their organizations while also raising money for a great cause.
According to the latest tabulation provided by officials, more than $1.5 million has been raised so far for charity, with donations still being accepted through the end of the month.
Those donations can be made at the Special Children’s Charities website.
Marty McLaughlin was one of thousands of participants in Sunday’s Polar Plunge, aiming to raise money for Special Olympics and other charities. He spoke to our Jenn Schanz.
Special Olympics Illinois helps individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout the state, helping them to “realize their full potential in sports and in life,” according to its website.
The organization puts on hundreds of events around the state, and was the first Special Olympics organization to launch in the U.S.
More information about the group can be found on its website.
