Photos: Polar Bear Swim

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Swimmers brave 48 degree water and take a dive during the 16th Annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE Mary Breen (LEFT) of Decatur and Carol Verlare of Tucker, take the plunge. Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Jason Smallwood of Gainesville, his nephew, Pierce Haynes, 7, and daughters, Bentley, 10 and Kennedy, 9 took the plunge Tuesday. Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE Tiffany Potter of Gainesville waits with towels for her kids that took the plunge. Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE Participants line up for their shot at the 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE First-time plunger Dan Decraene, 54, of Atlanta (CENTER) said the plunge " was on his bucket list. His daughter, Nicole, 24 of Atlanta (LEFT) and her friend Courtney Woodside, 23, of Blacksburg, VA came out "so he wouldn't be alone." Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE Kathy Pierce of Buford (LEFT) and Karen Roberts of Flowery Branch warm up in the hot tub following their swim. Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE A family heads for warmer and hopefully, drier, surroundings following the plunge. Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE Walt Fabianich of Cumming bundles his son Braden, 7, after his dip in the cold water. Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE Kim Kupec of Cumming puts a leash on Jasper, after he took a plunge in the cold waters of Lake Lanier Tuesday. Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

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JANUARY 1, 2013 GAINESVILLE Mary Breen (LEFT) of Decatur and Carol Verlare of Tucker, take the plunge. Participants braved 48 degree water for the 16th annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. The 16th annual Polar Bear Swim is a New Years tradition for the club. About 100 people took a polar plunge, despite rain and temperatures in the upper 40's. The event is a fundraiser for LCKC, with proceeds going to benefit the club's youth programs and other activities. Participants warmed up in a hot tub, got an event T-shirt, a bowl of chili and a drink to warm their bones. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

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