Despite the chilly December weather, Woodlawn Beach in Hamburg was very busy Saturday afternoon.
Hundreds of people came out to the shore to take the Polar Plunge. The 'cool' event helped to raise more than $100,000 for the Special Olympics.
But while everyone ran into the icy Lake Erie waters, Eric Schultz walked. That's because of an injury Eric sustained while serving in the US Army.
Eric's wife Jean watched as her husband overcame his physical challenges and took the plunge.
"Awesome," she said as she watched her husband dip under the cold water. "He's very determined."
Eric told 7 Eyewitness News reporter, Jill Perkins, that it was refreshing to finally hit the cold water after the long walk across the sand.
"Over the past 5 years, over $600,000 has been raised from this plunge for athletes participating in Special Olympics New York. It costs approximately $500 to support training and competition for one athlete for one sports season," said organizers of the event.
"Special Olympics New York provides year-round sports training and competition in 22 Olympic-style sports to children and adults with intellectual disabilities at no cost to the athletes, their families or caregivers. The more than 64,000 athletes that train and compete with Special Olympics New York makes it the largest Special Olympics program in North America."
