Taking the Polar Plunge

By Anthonia Akitunde in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 28, 2009 5:15PM

The oceanic Lake Michigan, like Chicago, has two distinct seasons: from June to September it is the city's personal playground before quickly switching to a dark, impenetrable mass people tend to avoid for the rest of the year. Hundreds of charitable (and maybe a touch crazy) people will ignore this fact and run into the lake at North Ave Beach tomorrow (Sunday, March 1) at 10 a.m. for a good cause.

Tomorrow's Ninth Annual Chicago Polar Plunge raises money for the Special Olympics, which "provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults in a variety of Olympic-type sports" to over 5,000 area athletes.

Last year, 1,200 participants ran into the frigid lake after groups and individuals raised a minimum of $100. After tomorrow's plunge, participants will warm up and celebrate in a heated tent with music, refreshments and a cash bar.

Photo via Chicago Polar Plunge