Denise Zinn, left, and Dina Donaldson run out of the water during the 2012 Groundhog Plunge in Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park's South Shore. More than 40 plungers, ranging in age from 17 to 70, braved the icy waters to help raise money for the Butler County Children and Youth Services' Duffel Bag Project.

On Feb. 11, 2012, amid temperatures in the 20s, high winds and heavy snowfall, people jumped into icy Lake Arthur wearing everything from swimsuits to a tuxedo T-shirt.

“It's a combination of a good cause, a bucket list and something to do on a Saturday,” said Andrew Dadig, a Slippery Rock University senior. “My strategy is to wear the least amount of clothing possible and go in as deep as I can.”

Leadership Butler County's Class of 2011 had its second annual Groundhog Plunge on the lake's South Shore at Moraine State Park. The event raised money for the Butler County Children and Youth Services' Duffel Bag Project. Money raised by the event helped provide essential items to abused or neglected children in the county.

The event, which attracted 43 plungers in 2011, drew about the same amount in 2012. Charlie Johns, assistant director of Butler County Children and Youth Services at the time, said he would opt for the “inch-in-slowly” strategy of plunging.

“I'm more afraid of the after; the during, I am OK with,” Johns said. “Last year, it was a good event for us. We got to see a lot of the benefits of it this year.”