Polar Plunge Participants Should’ve Brought the Sunscreen

It might not have been truly polar weather in Yakima last Saturday, but a sharp wind sent plenty of goosebumps rippling through the 200-plus swimmers who showed up for the 2015 Polar Plunge at Sarg Hubbard Park.

But hey, at least it was sunny.

By the end -- after the coldest had regained some feeling by warming up in a hot tub -- the gathering had helped raise more than $15,000 to benefit Yakima-area Special Olympics athletes.

The long-running event is organized by police agencies, and cops from as far away as Mukilteo were among the first ones to dive into the chilly waters.

Participants took part as individuals or teams, and pre-plunge activities included contests for the most outlandish costumes.

Here's a peek: