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Hundreds Participate In Annual Polar Plunge

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Hundreds of people kicked off the new year with a chilly jump into the Mon River.

While that may not sound well, probably not to most people, this group is made up of very brave men, women and children.

Some took the Polar Plunge for the first time, while others are veterans to this crazy, cold experience.

"Honestly, it's been worse in past years. This is the eighth year I've done it with my old man," Chris Bartow said.

"Yeah, it's cold and everything, but yeah, you get out and you're all excited and it just really starts the day off, the year off right there. I mean, you got to build memories, that's the whole thing," Scott Walton said.

This was the 51st jump for Polar Bear Club President Frank Nelson.

"It doesn't get any easier, no matter what anybody says, there is no practicing for it, if you do, you're crazy," Nelson said.

There may be no practicing, but there is some planning when it comes to what to wear.

Some strip down and others pile on the layers.

Cody Waigand put so much into his costume that he didn't want to jump in and ruin it.

"You don't want to ruin bacon, bacon has got to be perfect and it has to stay crispy. I got to stay crispy, you know, that's all," he said.

As for those who did leap off the Mon Wharf, they say this is the perfect way to wipe the slate clean for 2016 while helping out the Salvation Army.

Last year, the event raised $15,000.

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