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Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump 2018: Hundreds dive into icy waters | VIDEO & PHOTOS

Throughout the last 15 years, the event has raised more than $1.1 million for local charities.

AKRON, Ohio -- Although it was a cold, cloudy winter afternoon, hundreds of people packed the beach at Portage Lakes State Park to go for an icy swim.

More than 750 brave souls traded their winter coats for bathing suits and flip-flops Saturday at the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump, which raised more than $150,000 for the Akron Rotary Camp and the Ronald McDonald House of Akron.

For those skipping traditional beachwear, many adorned their bodies in goofy costumes, while taking the wickedly cold dip.

See photos from the event...

Gallery 1:

Gallery 2:

CLICK HERE to see video and photos from 2017's polar bear jump.

"Wow! That's freezing!" one man exclaimed while climbing out of the ice-cold water, a common scene as most raced with numb bare feet to get inside a warming tent.

The air temperature was right around 34 degrees when the event made its first splash at 2 p.m. -- a frigid contrast to last year when Mother Nature kissed Northeast Ohio with near 70 degrees.

Since its inception, the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump has raised more than $1.1 million for local charities.

We streamed 45 minutes of the 2018 polar plunge live on Facebook:

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