GORDONVILLE -- KXII Chief Meteorologist Steve LaNore says that water temperatures in Lake Texoma on Saturday were 50 degrees or below. That makes it hard to imagine that people were lining up to dive in.

However, KXII Reporter Josh Stevenson says that's exactly what happened at the 4th Annual Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday.

They came in toilet plunder hats and glittering tiaras. They were wheeled in on ice-filled wheelbarrows. And, they were all walking on rails together, just so they could jump in the lake.

So, how did these brave souls describe their icy dip?

"Shocking...breath takingly shocking," said one "plunger."
"Once you're in for a minute it doesnt matter then the hypothermia starts setting in and you start thinking that maybe you made a bad decision," said another.

Bad decision? Maybe, but it was definitely for a good cause.

"The Special Olympics of Western Grayson County and our three local volunteer fire departments, Sadler, Gordonville and Sherwood Shores," said Linda Mayo, the event organizer.

For many of todays... um... lets call them divers... taking the plunge has become a tradition. A tradition that continues to grow every year.

"This year we had about 70 plungers, last year we had about 50," said Mayo.

The most shocking aspect of the Polar Bear Plunge was why someone would take a long walk off a short pier.

"It's all about fun," said a "plunger."
"Well it was for a good cause, and the most important thing is that everyone had a good time, and i stayed in the longest," said another.

And I, stayed on the shore. At Lake Texoma, Josh Stevenson, First News.