UPDATED: Are You Taking the University of Michigan Polar Plunge?

Editor's note: New teams were added to the list after this story's original publication Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Nearly 90 teams, including several with ties to Saline, will take the University of Michigan Polar Plunge on Saturday, Feb. 23, in Ann Arbor to raise money for Special Olympics Michigan.

Hundreds of brave souls will defy the cold to take a dip in a pool set up inside Michigan Stadium, following a parade of costumes from the locker rooms, down the tunnel and onto the field for the event. An awards ceremony will be held after the plunge.

The high Saturday will be 38 degrees under partly sunny skies, according to the National Weather Service.

The following Saline groups will participate in the event.

• Team Saline: The group, composed of Saline Area Schools principals and administrators, had raised the most funds of all 89 teams as of Tuesday, with $6,800.
• Team REO: Six members from Real Estate One in Saline/Milan make up this group, which was the No. 5 team fundraiser Wednesday with $4,316. Team REO will dress up as "The Incredibles" for the plunge.
• The Bathing Beauties: The group, which includes SAS special education staff members and football players, was the No. 3 team fundraiser with $3,966.
• ATA Ninja Plungers: The group from ATA Martial Arts in Saline was the No. 10 team fundraiser Tueday with $1,679.
• Team Devin: The group is plunging in support of Special Olympian Devin Sparrow; it was the No. 22 fundraiser Wednesday with $845.
• RydeOn! Saline: The cycling studio's team had raised $50 as of Tuesday, making it the No. 48 team fundraiser.
• IceCaps: The group of students from the Saline High School "Connecting" program had yet to raise funds Tuesday.

"I think it is so great that the Saline community is so actively supporting this amazing event," Cynthia Stauder of ATA Ninja Plungers wrote in an e-mail to Saline Patch.

[Do you know of another Saline team or resident who is participating? Leave a comment!]

Visit the Polar Plunge website to browse a full list of participants. As of Tuesday, the event had raised $78,238 for Special Olympics Michigan.

"By participating in this Polar Plunge you are helping to raise funds for over 19,000 athletes who participate in Special Olympics Michigan," says the Polar Plunge website. "Special Olympics Michigan is a year-round program offering sports for those with intellectual disabilities. Although sports are the 'vehicle,' the ultimate goal of Special Olympics is to help persons with intellectual disabilities participate and receive respect as members of their communities."