Brave, and possibly cold-blooded, swimmers will take a wintery dip in Lake Erie for a good cause.

The Second Annual Polar Bear Plunge, "Freezin' For a Reason," will be 1:40 p.m. on Feb. 10 at Cedar Point. The pledges collected will benefit Special Olympics.

The plunge is a month earlier this year and will include plungers from 10 northwest Ohio counties.

Deb Sidell, codirector, hopes for a turnout of 150 people willing to make the plunge, about 100 more than last year.

Unlike other plunge locations where people jump into the frigid water and are fully immersed, plungers at Cedar Point can walk, or run, in and don't have to go all the way under.
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Sidell, who participated in the plunge last year, expects the water to be around 40 degrees.

For safety, there will be a dive team in the water and an EMS unit on standby.

There will also be Warm-Up Party pre-plunge breakfast buffet from 10 a.m.-noon at FOP Lodge 17.

The post-plunge party will be at TGI Fridays and is free to plungers and $10 for guests.

To participate, the pledge amount is $75. Pre-registration is from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Thirsty Pony. Same day registration is from 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Feb. 10 on site.