BALDWINSVILLE, NY (WSYR-TV) - The chilly weather didn't stop dozens of people from taking a plunge into a frigid Seneca River or Skaneateles Lake on Saturday.
"It should be on everybody's bucket list. It's crazy to do in the winter in upstate New York, why not embrace it and have fun with it," said Baldwinsville Mayor Joe Saraceni.
Saraceni has taken part in the Baldwinsville Polar Bear Plunge since it started six years ago.
Members of the Baldwinsville Fire Department took the plunge on Saturday too.
"Once you hit the water its like a thousand needles hitting you and once your underwater you warm up quickly," said firefighter Shane Olney.
Every plunger had to raise $100 to jump in the water. That money went to the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Central NY Chapter, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY.
More than $35,000 was raised last year and this year, despite the chill, organizers hope to raise much more.
At Skaneateles Lake, organizers had to cut through about 3 ½ inches of ice in order to give people a place to plunge.
Air temperature at the time of the plunge was 5-degrees, which tied for the coldest in the event's 4-year history.
The plunge was part of Winter Fest.
NewsChannel 9’s Carrie Lazarus hosted the event.
Money raised benefits several Skaneateles charities.
