The water in Lake Raleigh on Centennial Campus is 39 degrees, and it could get colder before Saturday.

Temperatures, however, will not stop participants from taking a plunge into the lake — a Polar Plunge to be exact.

“We had 52 jumpers last year, and we are looking to double that this year,” Sgt. Jon Barnwell of Campus Police said.

The second annual Polar Plunge, sponsored by Campus Police, has already generated $12,000 for Special Olympics from corporate sponsors.

This does not include the donations each participant will bring to the event, he said.

“Once [participants] reach the $50 mark, it gives them a chance to jump in the lake,” Barnwell said.

Campus Police encouraged participants to solicit funds from friends and colleagues for the organization.

Amy West, president of the InterResidence Council, said she is currently attempting to coordinate a group of IRC members to take the plunge this Saturday.

She said she was not sure how many council members would participate on Saturday, but there was a “big interest” in the event.

West said the council spread the word about the Polar Plunge and its support of Special Olympics at a housing conference.

“Every housing conference chooses a philanthropy,” she said.

According to Jessie Rosenberg, national communications coordinator for IRC, she suggested that the Polar Plunge be the philanthropy for the conference of the North Carolina Association of Residence Halls.

“I asked 14 schools from the UNC system to donate money,” Rosenberg, a senior in social work, said.

While she said the schools did not raise funds as she had hoped, she considers raising money and participating as an individual.

“I think it’s important that N.C. State makes a good showing,” Barnwell said.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday. All participants will assemble at the side of the lake at 9:45 a.m. Groups of 8 to 10 will begin the plunge “as close to 10 a.m. as possible,” Barnwell said.

He said facilities and landscape services prepared the area around the lake for the event, bringing in sand and mulch.

Special Olympics athletes will be the grand marshals for the event, Barnwell said.

“The law enforcement in general throughout the year raises money for Special Olympics,” Barnwell said.

He said the funding goes to the athletes’ needs, such as equipment and travel.

Barnwell said he hopes for maximum participation.

“The water’s cold — 39 degrees — but it’s for a good cause,” he said.