An estimated 11,000 people tested the 34-degree waters of the Chesapeake Bay on Jan. 24 as part of the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics at Sandy Point State Park.

Among them were several local participants who reported being happy about the fundraising results, but shuddered at the memory of taking the plunge into the icy bay.

"It was really, really, really cold," said Kevin Gibbons-O'Neill, assistant athletic director for marketing at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a member of the Arbutus Business and Professional Association.

"The water was really cold but the atmosphere was really cool," he said.

Gibbons-O'Neill and his 13-year-old daughter, Brittan Gibbons-O'Neill, were participating in the event for the second straight year, and raised more than $2,000 in donations from family and friends.

This year's event, in its 13th year, raised at least $2.5 million for the Special Olympics, state police said.

Last year, Gibbons-O'Neill said he only had to go into the water up to his neck.

This year, someone upped the ante.

"One of the guys who donated said he would donate an extra $100 if I went all the way under," he said.

With the extra incentive, he fully submerged himself before popping back up and sprinting to the shore.

"You run in and it takes your breath away, and you get out and you're still freezing cold," he said.

"Imagine standing under the shower in freezing cold water for five minutes -- with the wind blowing."

Gibbons-O'Neill said he and his daughter will likely participate again next year, having been encouraged by the show of support from the many people who contributed.

"In these tough times, it's nice that people give like that," he said. "It was really cool."

Jim Wickless, a Baltimore County Police officer, said the event was a success he will never forget -- for multiple reasons.

"It's a cold you can't really describe, but as you're doing it your adrenaline is running so high," he said.

Good thing, too, because Wickless took more than one dip.

As a "Super Plunger," Wickless plunged into the bay 25 times between noon on Jan. 23 and 10 a.m. on Jan. 24.

About once an hour, he and the other Super Plungers hit the water, which meant many of his plunges were in the middle of the night.

Wickless and the other Super Plungers were scheduled to make the plunge 24 times, but encouragement from a disc jockey working the event on the morning of Jan. 24 got them so excited about completing their last scheduled dip that they decided to "do it one more time," Wickless said.

"Overall, it was probably one of the best experiences of my life," Wickless said.

"It was one of the most memorable experiences that I'll never forget and that I'm very proud to be a part of."

Wickless is the community outreach officer for the Baltimore County Police Department's Wilkens precinct, which includes most of Catonsville as well as Oella, Halethorpe, Relay, Lansdowne, Riverview and Baltimore Highlands.

Donations were still coming in this week, Wickless said.

He said that by the time he gets them all counted, he expects to have raised about $10,000.

During his nearly 24-hour-long stint, he slept in 30-minute intervals then jumped into the frigid bay. He said he sometimes questioned whether he'd be able to continue at the grueling pace.

"You know how cold it's going to be, and a lot of times you get worried," he said.

But then he would chat with one of the Special Olympic athletes who were participating in the event as well, and suddenly have a fresh supply of motivation.

"You just realize you are doing it for them," he said.

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