PHOTOS: Special Olympics Alaska Polar Plunge

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Miss Alaska Michelle Taylor emerges from the lake with her tiara intact during the Polar Plunge. The Special Olympics Polar Plunge is an annual event, that this year raised almost $400,000 for the group. Dec 21, 2013

The only thing crazier than jumping into the frigid waters of an Alaska lake in midwinter is paying at least $100 for the privilege. The moment of pure body shock is for a good cause, however, as money raised by the participants in Anchorage's annual Polar Plunge helps fund Special Olympics Alaska programs.

This year's event took place at Goose Lake, located in the middle of Alaska's largest city. Polar Plunge preppers carved out a square hole in the lake, exposing its dark, slightly-above-freezing waters. For those who accept the challenge -- oftentimes after accepting dares from friends, family and coworkers who choose to take the quick dip together -- the intense experience of icy water rushing from toe to head isn't enough. Coordinated costumes make the event all the more amusing.

Costumes on display at this year's Polar Plunge included Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Gumby and men wearing nothing but pink tutus.

Polar Plunge has become a wintertime tradition. Afterward, divers tell tales of heroism and brag about how much money they raised. This year's top team honor went to the Frigidaires, with 22 members from BP, the Alaska Oil and Gas Association and other resource groups dressed as the Minions from the film "Despicable Me 2." Altogether the team raised $71,492. John Eldred, one of the team's members, personally raised $23,657, outperforming his own personal donation goal by thousands and making him the day's top individual donor.

Among the field of teams, Jimmy's Angels and Project Nanuq (an Arctic Slope Regional Corp. team) placed second and third, respectively, each raising nearly $15,000 for Special Olympics. Second-place individual donor Jim Balamaci raised $14,705; he's the president and CEO of the event. Joe Saxton came in third with $10,800 in pledges.

Fundraisers who collected $5,000 or more get to take a trip, probably somewhere warm, thanks to GCI, which donated 20,000 Alaska Airlines miles for each of the top earners. There were smaller denominations of airline miles, hoodies and towels for the large crowd of other participants. In all, 1,033 fundraisers made the icy leap, many of them as members of the event's 241 teams. And at least 3,000 individual donors chipped in to see their friends take a brief, chilly swim.

Balamaci said the Polar Plunge is iconic Alaska. The event is representative of the adventures who live here and their generosity, he said. Special Olympics Alaska, Inc. set its fundraising goal at a half-million dollars, though Balamaci admitted that was wishful thinking. Still, about $375,000 had been raised by Saturday afternoon, and the CEO said he expected to break the $400,000 mark.

Contact Jerzy Shedlock at jerzy(at)alaskadispatch.com. Follow him on Twitter @jerzyms.