Photos by Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

About 225 people took a plunge into the chilly New River in Radford on Saturday afternoon to raise money for Special Olympics Virginia.

A group of fraternity brothers from Virginia Tech and Radford University waits to plunge into the New River. The weather was nice, but the water was cold.

Alan Brainard waltzes in a wedding dress before dunking in the 34-degree New River on Saturday afternoon. Initial reports indicated that the Highlander Polar Plunge Celebration raised about $17,000 for Special Olympics Virginia.

Wearing a floral two-piece swimsuit, Sarah Montgomery ran into the near-freezing water of the New River on Saturday, and quickly came back to land.

Then she did something that most likely none of her counterparts participating in the Highlander Polar Plunge Celebration in Radford did: She went for a second swim.

"I don't even like to swim," she said later, dressed in sweats and wrapped in a blanket.

So what made this Radford University freshman majoring in geology take the plunge twice?

The first time was because of her mom. "My mom found out about it online and said, 'Hey you should do this, it's for a good cause.' "

The second time was because Montgomery overheard someone commenting on how none of the approximately 225 participants swam upon entering the 34-degree water. She took it as a challenge. So she ran back into the river and swam to the rescue boat in place to monitor the event.

"I touched the boat and yelled," she said laughing. "It was cold, but I've been colder."

Early estimates are that the event raised nearly $17,000 for Special Olympics Virginia, with 75 percent of that designated for the Southwest Region. Individuals paid $25 to participate, with many opting to raise more money for the nonprofit organization.

Montgomery had volunteered for Special Olympics in high school and thought it would be good to get reinvolved. Additionally, she wanted to do "a good deed" to honor the recent birth of her rabbi's third child.

While Montgomery wasn't part of a team, many of the plungers were there representing their sorority, fraternity, church, civic group, athletic team or other organization. Several officers with the Radford Police Department, which was the official sponsor of the event, followed their chief's example and took the early afternoon dip. Ten players for the Radford men's soccer team braved the cold in their white gym shorts and bare chests. Afterward, they were dressed in their team sweats eager for a hot shower before an afternoon practice.

The event is billed as one of the homecoming events for Radford University this weekend. But the Radford connection didn't deter Virginia Tech students from showing up, too.

In its second year, the event has quickly become one of the top fundraising event for Special Olympics in the region, said Nancy Morehouse, director of the Southwest Region.

Morehouse said she hopes the event can continue to grow, similar to the way the Polar Plunge Winter Festival in Virginia Beach has continued to attract more people each year.

More than 10,000 people jump into the frigid Atlantic Ocean in February. That plunge is the largest Special Olympics fundraiser in the state.