Jumping in the waters of Lake Tahoe while it's 40 degrees outside might be off-putting to some.
"It's shocking," said someone who took the plunge.
Others say it's worth it to raise money for people like Kaelyn Dugan. Dugan is a Special Olympics athlete with cerebral palsy and cortical vision impairment.
An organizer said the Polar Plunge gives back to athletes like Dugan.
"Every time you see one, it's an automatic smile and a mood booster. So, the least that we can do for them is just give back," said Kayla Irlbeck with Special Olympics Northern California.
Special Olympics Northern California works with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office to raise money for athletic programs. The non-profit says every five hundred dollars raised provides one year of free programming to one Special Olympics athlete.
Dozens of folks stepped foot in the cold Tahoe waters, including the Sheriff himself.
"I believe this is a true polar plunge, to dive into Lake Tahoe," said Sheriff Jeff Leikauf. "The only thing missing today -- and we almost had it -- was a little bit of snow on the ground."
"It shocks you, but they were right there with the blankets, so it wasn't too bad," said Chantal Reese, another plunger.
So far, the Tahoe Polar Plunge has raised over $23,000 for Special Olympics Northern California. Even though a plunge in freezing water is rough, organizers say it's worth it in the end.
"It takes just a little bit of self-sacrifice for just a couple of moments to make a really huge impact," said Michael Seligsohn, the Tahoe Polar Plunge chairperson.
To learn more about Special Olympics Northern California and how you can show your support, click here.
Volunteers took a polar plunge today at Camp Richardson to raise money for the Special Olympics.
