LOUISIANA, MO -- A sign along the riverfront in Louisiana, Mo., says "no swimming allowed," but this was an exception. A dozen giving people took a quick swim in the below freezing temperatures.
The self-titled polar plungers dress in costume to take a dip in the Mississippi. More than 100 people turned out to cheer them on and snap plenty of pictures.
Murrel Warner jumped into the muddy water for the third straight year.
The veteran plunger earned a trophy for her fish costume and another for raising more than $1,000 for Special Olympics.
"I keep thinking someday I'm going to start acting my age," Warner said. "But why start now? Isn't life about having fun and enjoying it? This is a family adventure."
The annual event raises thousands of dollars to support more than 14,000 Special Olympics athletes in the state of Missouri. Louisian's plunge kicked off a tour made up of eight polar plunges across the state, including Lake of the Ozarks and St. Louis.
"We have great volunteers across the state," Northeast area director of Missouri Special Olympics TIm Schuster said. "Anyone who's willing to get in on a day like today, it's people like this who drive us as a staff to continue to help the athletes. People like this keep us going."
The plungers were treated to hot coffee, cookies, and a place next to the space heater for their efforts.
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