Fridley's Cory Doyle Prepping for Second Year of Polar Plunge

Cory Doyle, who lives on Liberty Street NE in Fridley, is getting ready to do the Polar Plunge in White Bear Lake on Saturday for the second year.

You can help Doyle reach his goal of raising $750 by pledging at this Polar Plunge page. (As of Tuesday morning he is at $250.)

Here, in slightly edited form, is what he had to say about it in a series of emails Monday:

It is a charity event for the Special Olympics of Minnesota. On the schedule for Saturday is a costume contest at 10 a.m. at Jimmy's, then the plunge starts at noon. 

You go, they announce you and you jump into the lake. Right after the lake you jump into a hot tub and them back into the tent to change into some dry clothes.

I have always thought jumping into a frozen lake was a Minnesotan thing to do, plus I love water. I always heard of it on the news but never looked into it till last year.

I'd love to do more charity events but I don't have too much money to donate so I like to donate my time and body. That is why I am going to do it twice. I have had people tell me they wanted to do it with me so I decided to do more so others would, but it didn't work out too well. I only got one other friend to sign up. (Shane Caird is doing it, but he will be at the second one with me in Burnsville on Feb. 25.)

Prep isn't too hard, you just got to know it's gonna be cold and prepare mentally for that. My wife Heidi has helped—every time she comes in from outside she grabs me with her cold hands. I also take my dog out to go to bathroom in as little as possible.

Also I feel that the crazier I dress and make a fool of myself the more people will donate. This year will be a hula girl—grass skirt, seashell bra and all! Last year I wore a Speedo. At my size it shouldn't be done.

I like the feeling you get from helping others or knowing you are doing something for charity. I am will to do almost anything for a good cause.