WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-An icy swim for a good cause

An icy swim for a good cause

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By Kyle Midura - bio | email
BURLINGTON, Vt. -

Whether they dive or just dip, each person who splashed into Lake Champlain Saturday did so in support of Special Olympians across the Green Mountain state.

More than one-thousand brave souls splashed into icy Lake Champlain for the Penguin Plunge.

Event organizers say more than 11-hundred plungers signed up online. They haven't counted the rest yet, but expect to raise about $400,000 Saturday and an additional $25,000 from events held in North Bennington and Newport. "That represents about half of our annual operating budget so these events are very important to us," said Kim Bookless, the events organizer.

The weather cooperated, providing the perfect February beach day for plungers, as thousands watched from shore. Organizers also took part, not content to just watch from the sidelines."I've jumped in 10 plunges in four years, today will be my 11th next Saturday will be my 12th in Newport," Bookless said.

"It was fantastic. It has never been better," said Kevin Plette, a plunge participant.

With each passing year, the odd tradition soaks a bit further into the fabric of the Burlington community.

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