If there was anytime of the year to take a plunge in cold water, it would be on a warm winter Saturday, as thousands attended the 13th annual Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump.

"We've got a lot of spectators here watching because it's so nice," founder of the Polar Bear jump Kelly Pariso said. "They don't have to even to put a coat on to come watch people jump in the polar bear jump, so that happens very rarely."

Last year, it was 28 degrees when more than 700 people participated in the polar bear jump. This year, 60-degree temperatures helped the event bring in a record number of people with an unofficial count near 2,000, Pariso said.

The jump that started in founders Kelly and Heather Pariso's backyard as simply a fun thing to do to give back has raised more than $600,000 since it was introduced in 2004. Pariso said it's all about the people who donate and participate in the jump that makes it so special.

"When you create something that's just fun, we can't really take ownership of making it fun," Pariso said. That's the people that come. We just have some great, spirited people."

This year, the fundraising event organized by the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Club looks to raise $100,000 for Camp Quality Ohio and the Ronald McDonald House in Akron.

More than 4,000 people have made the jump in the past 12 years.