Polar plunges raise cold hard cash for charity

Temple Israel Polar Plunge participants run into the Long Island Sound Tuesday morning Jan. 1, 2013, at Compo Beach in Westport, Conn. The plunge raised money for United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Photo: Lindsay Perry, Perry

Veteran plunger Sam Walker, left, holds hands with his wife, Stacey, right, for her first plunge into the Long Island Sound at Compo Beach Tuesday morning Jan. 1, 2013, in Westport, Conn., during Temple Israel's 6th annual Polar Plunge. The plunge raised money for United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Photo: Lindsay Perry, Perry

Sam Theriault, 11, runs out of the Long Island Sound Tuesday morning, Jan. 1, 2013, at Compo Beach in Westport Conn., after taking part in Temple Israel's 6th annual Polar Plunge. The event raised money for United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Photo: Lindsay Perry, Perry

Frank Vartuli, left, and Tom Patterson, center, embrace after plunging into the Long Island Sound Tuesday morning Jan. 1, 2013, at Compo Beach in Westport Conn., during Temple Israel's 6th annual Polar Plunge. The plunge raised money for United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Photo: Lindsay Perry, Perry

Temple Israel Polar Plunge participants run out of the Long Island Sound Tuesday morning, Jan. 1, 2013, at Compo Beach in Westport, Conn. The event raised money for United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Photo: Lindsay Perry, Perry

Ken Ildefonso is the first to run into the Long Island Sound at Compo Beach in Westport, Conn., during the Team Mossman Polar Plunge to benefit Save the Children, Tuesday morning, Jan. 1, 2013. Photo: Lindsay Perry

Team Mossman Polar Plunge participants run into the Long Island Sound at Compo Beach in Westport, Conn., Tuesday morning, Jan. 1, 2013. The plunge was a benefit for Save the Children. Photo: Lindsay Perry

JD Rodia, age 14 center, runs out of the Long Island Sound at Compo Beach Tuesday morning Jan. 1, 2012, in Westport, Conn., during the Team Mossman Polar Plunge to benefit Save the Children. Photo: Lindsay Perry

Adrian Mueller, center, celebrates after running into the Long Island Sound Tuesday morning, Jan. 1, 2013, at Compo Beach in Westport, Conn., during the Team Mossman Polar Plunge to benefit Save the Children. Photo: Lindsay Perry