Eight-five men and women braved the 36-degree water temperature to take part Saturday in the 11th Annual Polar Plunge at the Mauch Chunk Lake, along Lentz Avenue in Jim Thorpe.

“Eighty-five is the most number of plungers we’ve ever had,” said Kathy Goff, Fundraising Coordinator for the Blue and Gold Club of Marian.

While a final total was not available, this year’s plunge raised more than last year’s total of $7,000. The Segedy family, owners of Stripes and Strikes of Hazleton, donated T-shirts for this year’s event.

“That’s about $1,000 that we can use for the school,” Goff said. “The Blue and Gold Club raises money for the entire student body. We do things for athletics, we help the drama club, we do fun things for various classes. Every student at the school benefits from what we do.”

Goff said plungers came from 15 counties around the state.

Justin Bosetti of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, participated. His wife, Danielle, is from the area.

“This is the fifth time I’ve done this,” Bosetti said, “although, the other four times were in Pittsburgh; the last time was on New Year’s Day. This is the first time I’m doing this with ice. It will be fun.”

For Ed Mulholland of Gilbertsville, Montgomery County, this was his first time.

“This has always been on the bucket list. I have no idea what to expect,” he said. “And a friend of mine said this was the place to do it.”

After the plunge, Mulholland described the feeling.

“It took my breath away, to walk in the water,” he said. “It wasn’t what I expected, but I would do it again.”

Three generations of one family took the plunge as well. Lisa Steinbaecher of Orwigsburg said she always wanted to do it.

“I asked my daughter (Lisa Ambrose) and she said yes, and then I asked my granddaughter (Taylor Roschel) who also said yes,” Steinbaecher said.

Among the plungers were 10 Marian High School students, including Abigail Kluck and sisters Lauren and Megan Reaman.

“I did this the past three years,” Kluck said. “This is my senior year, and I wanted to do it again one more time.”

Goff thanked the Jim Thorpe Fire Departments and Lehighton Ambulance for volunteering their services.