[VIDEO] A Swim in Icy Waters Leads to $24,000 in Donations

Nearly 80 people braved the cold waters of Sloper Pond and hundreds more took to the beach to cheer plungers on during the Eighth Annual Polar Plunge Saturday afternoon.

The popular January fundraiser proved more successful than organizers hoped as the event raised a record $24,000 for YMCA Camp Sloper sholarships as seven teams took to the water in the name of fun.

"The community continues to step up and surprise us," said Mark Pooler, outdoor center director at Camp Sloper. "Every year, it surprises us just how much the communty is willing to do to help out."

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The 2013 event provide thousands more in donations than previous any previous plunge, surpassing .

All proceeds from the event go to provide camper scholarships for area families and children.

Special thanks to South Windsor Patch Local Editor Ted Glanzer for assisting with photos and videography.

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