Sunday, March 6, I, along with 6,000 other crazy Chicagoans, took the plunge for Special Olympics.

For the past 16 years, Chicago has been host to the annual Polar Plunge. According to the Chicago Tribune, the charity raised over $1.5 million dollars this year, and I can happily say that my teammates and I, which included seniors Alex Dreyfus, Cammie de Loys, and Talia Schiff, contributed to that sum.

The process of raising money was easy. In fact, I made the decision to plunge only a week in advance. There’s no registration fee, however the goal for each participant is to raise a minimum of $175.

If that amount sounds like a lot, it wasn’t. Overnight, I had already surpassed that minimum and by the end of the week, 17 of my family and friends sponsored me on behalf of the organization.

I think half the fun of the event was gathering sponsors and seeing how much money you can raise in a short period of time. Every night I would check my inbox and be thrilled to find donations.

On the day of the event I woke up feeling excited, yet slightly nervous. I was a rookie and didn’t know what to bring so I brought it all: a change of clothes for afterward, winter boots and socks, my oversized parka (made for Canadian winters), and a towel made for two. To my dismay, none of the above was needed.

The weather on Sunday was perfect rather than polar so there was no need to over dress. I was also handed a towel when I emerged from the water and some people were even given bath robes. If I could do it over (which I plan to next year), I’d know not to over pack or dress.

The event itself was a blast. Everyone on North Avenue Beach was in high spirits and the energy was tangible. People dressed in everything from bikinis to pajamas. One man was even clad in a bubble wrap suit while two older gentlemen wore tuxedos and top hats. There was also a group of women who carried toilet plungers in the air and another large team wore Viking hats.
Surprisingly, the one person who didn’t come in costume was Lady Gaga.

Wearing black leggings and sunglasses, the pop singer braved the icy, cold water for her second year in a row, along with “Chicago Fire” star and fiancé Taylor Kinney and NBC meteorologist Al Roker. Other names to make headlines was Kinney’s “Fire” co-stars, various news correspondents from NBC and local Chicago programs, and mayor Rahm Emanuel.

“The Polar Plunge is quintessential Chicago,” Emanuel tweeted. “It is a great event that supports an even greater cause.”

Gaga also took to social media posting a frenzy of pictures on Instagram and Snapchat. “You can’t have empathy without pain,” she wrote on Twitter. “Get FREEZING cold so they can feel your warmth. #SpecialOlympics #PolarPlunge.”

Despite the 40 degree weather and sun, patrons were still encouraged to get in and out as fast as possible. Emergency medical personnel stood by and even provided care for one woman who was pulled out of the water and wheeled off on a stretcher.

However, I didn’t happen to witness Gaga, Kinney, or any emergencies. In fact, when I came out of the water, I immediately wished I would have dunked all the way. Once my feet submerged in the mushy sand, I immediately felt the shocking sensation and probably wouldn’t have been able to withstand going all the way, but coming out half-way dry wasn’t nearly as satisfying.

On my way home, I couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of connection to the charity but also the city. Participating in a well-known event like the Polar Plunge feels like a team effort and makes me motivated to take part in other sponsored events around Chicago.

When you live in such a small community like the North Shore, it’s not often that you can find large scale fundraisers to participate in.

The organizations that do host local events, don’t draw nearly as much attention, sponsorship, or participation as those in the city do.

Essentially, the strong sense of camaraderie amongst a mass group of mostly strangers is what made doing the Polar Plunge so much fun and I look forward to taking part in other local Chicago events. Next up, the Shamrock Shuffle.