Photos: Shrinkage And Philanthropy At Lakeview's Annual Polar Plunge

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 1, 2016 5:05PM

Temperatures on dry land hovered near 50 degrees this weekend, but according the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Lake Michigan's water temperature was a chilly 32 degrees. So if you thought the 15th annual Lakeview Polar Bear Club polar plunge was made easier by a relatively balmy day, you'd be wrong. There was still plenty of shrinkage going on.

Organizers say Saturday's polar plunge drew over 300 participants and has raised over $24,000 so far for two local families.

All of the donations will go toward the Garcia family, whose son Dominic has Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction (CIPO), and the Linblad family, whose son Nicholas is battling a congenital heart disease. Both families are burdened with mounting medical expenses, and the Lakeview Polar Club hopes to raise $32,000 to help ease some of the financial pressures both families are under.

The organization is still short of their hoped for goal and will be updating their website with news of further donations over the news couple of weeks. Enjoy our photos from this year's actual plunge, and if you feel moved to donate in support of the two families chosen this year, you can still do that here.