THUNDER BAY -- Warren Giertuga showed his support as he jumped into freezing cold Lake Superior for the seventh time.
It's quite a shock, the Thunder Bay corrections officer said after taking a plunge Saturday at the Marina Park for the seventh annual Polar Bear Plunge in support of Special Olympics.
"Your breath gets taken away," Giertuga said. "If the water was any colder it would be frozen, but it's not as bad as you think."
"It's for a great cause," Giertuga said explaining that the money raised helps support athletes travelling to different events provincially, nationally and internationally.
The Polar Bear Plunge is a fundraising event where individuals jump into icy waters to raise money for charity. The participants are required to raise a minimum of $100 to take part in the event.
"Last year we had just over 300 participants and we ended up raising $78,000," Giertuga said.
"This year we are right on track with the same amount of people so we are hoping to raise around the same amount."
Tereza Biloski took her first plunge into Lake Superior this year. The Special Olympic parent Biloski said her son wasn't able to take part in this year's event.
"My son is one of the participants," Biloski said. "He wasn't able to jump today so I jumped in his place."
"I thought if my son can do it then I can do it too."
Biloski said it was shocking when she first made contact with the water but felt refreshed soon after.
"I will probably do it next year, it's for a really good cause and these Olympians are awesome."