If the temperature is in the mid-30’s Farenheit and the sun is shining, what else would you do on a weekend morning but jump into the frigid waters of the Detroit River?
Did I mention the water temperature was 37 degrees Farenheit?
And they had to cut a square in the ice because the Detroit River is frozen at the Belle Isle Detroit Boat House where people jumped in?
Hey, don’t worry.
It was all for a good cause: raising money for Special Olympics Michigan at the annual Polar Plunge.
Special Olympics Michigan Polar Plunge
Dozens of Polar Plunge events are held throughout Michigan every year to raise money for Special Olympics Michigan.
The funds are used to finance year-round sports training and athletic competition for 23,000+ children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Michigan.
I was one of the many friends, family members, co-workers, and supporters gathered on the shoreline at the Belle Isle Boat House this weekend, cheering on the participants as they jumped into the icy cold waters of the Detroit River.
And I do mean icy cold!
The ice is about a foot thick at the Detroit Boat House.
They had to use a power saw early in the morning to cut out the ice for people to jump in.
Some of the jumpers went all out with their outfits. Here are the Elvis impersonators, dressed in white, as they waited to take their jump into the river.
If you’re wondering about the safety of the jumpers: the U.S. Coast Guard Ice Rescue and City of Detroit Police Underwater Recovery Team were in the water in their gear making sure no one went under the ice.
