BEND, OR -- The annual Polar Plunge is Saturday. Sunriver Police officer Kecia Weaver started the fundraiser in 2007 when she was with Bend PD, “So, this will be our 18th year plunging in central Oregon and all the other Oregon polar plunges just copied us. So that's something that we're pretty proud of.”

Snow and rain are in the forecast. Weaver says they have had winter conditions in the past, “Remarkably, most of the rest have been pretty pleasant but the snow is welcome. It adds to the fun.”

“We love to have the friendly competition and invite other agencies or any first responders to try to beat one another out for who can raise the most money,” They’ve raised more than $42-thousand dollars so far. “Law enforcement has a long history of supporting the Special Olympics. And one of the ways that we do that is through Polar Plunge, which is raising funds so that people with intellectual disabilities can participate in Special Olympics at no charge to them. So, law enforcement is part of raising the awareness and then the fundraising as well. So polar plunge is a crazy and fun way that we do that.”

Along with the plunge there is a 5K run, costume contest, and a Puppy Plunge. “It's a lot of fun. It's just a unique event that we can do in central Oregon,” Weaver says

Registration starts at 9 am Saturday at River Bend Park. Plunging begins at 11.