Arriving with blankets, coats, hats and gloves, people shed their winter clothing and headed for frigid water at Compo Beach in Westport to raise money for a good cause Thursday.

Nearly 100 people rushed into the Long Island Sound as part of Temple Israel's eighth annual Polar Plunge.

The plunge has raised money for several national charities over the years, including Autism Speaks. This year, the money will go to the Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County, which helps children with mental illness.

One mother was greatly appreciative, saying that she isn't sure where she would be without the organization.

Luke Riley, 12, used his GoPro camera to capture the plunge. "It was already really cold out, so I didn't feel the coldness as much," he said. "But then once you get out of the water, the coldness really hits you."

Participants believe they were freezing for a good reason. The charity raised more than $70,000 for the Child Guidance Center.

The water was around 42 degrees Fahrenheit.