CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Thousands of people enjoyed a beautiful day at North Avenue Beach for the 24th annual Chicago Polar Plunge.
This year's Polar Plunge saw above average temperatures for March and participants enjoyed the sunshine and warmer weather. More than 5,200 people registered for the event benefiting the Special Olympics Chicago.
It was John Stasiowski's fifth year participating.
"The energy here is fantastic. You'll never meet more genuine, pure people and it's so much fun," he told WBBM.
His advice to first-timers is to have "a little bit of liquid courage and then you just run in and then you back flop. That's the best way to do it."
Mayor Brandon Johnson also participated in the event, but for the first time.
"It was the athletes that said 'Mayor Johnson we want to see you out there in March for the Polar Plunge' and guess what: Here I am y'all," he said before getting in the water.
Another Chicago politician, 19th ward Alderman Matt O'Shea, took his 23rd plunge.
"This isn't bad," he said referring to the temperature of the water. "The fact that I can stand here and talk to you...most years you wanna get inside."
Over $2 million was raised from this year's Polar Plunge and was the largest ever in history, according to a spokesperson with the Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities.
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