Members of Rochester-North Oakland Elks Lodge #2225 in Addison Township proved you don’t have to wait for summer to take a refreshing dip in the lake.

On Feb. 16, six hearty souls stripped down to their beachwear and dove into the icy waters of Shadow Lake as part of the lodge’s Third Annual Polar Plunge fund-raiser.

“I’m a little crazy,” admitted Leonard resident Craig McDonald, a three-time Polar Plunger.

The plunge generated $806, which was donated to the Michigan Veterans Foundation, a nonprofit agency that runs the Detroit Veterans Center (DVC), a transitional housing and resource center. At the DVC, homeless veterans gain confidence and learn skills to help them once again live independently.

For some participants, this was their first plunge.

“It really wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” said Steve Camp, of Royal Oak. “I would do it again.”

“Hitting that water, that’s probably one of the coldest things I’ve ever felt . . . It really does wake you up, so it was nice,” said Rochester resident Jeremy Smith. “I’ll be back next year, for sure.”

“There’s nothing to compare it to,” said Leonard resident Desiree King.

It was  the third Polar Plunge for Elks Exalted Ruler Jason Judkins, of Addison Township. He said it doesn’t get any easier.

“I’m still psyched out every time I get up to that ice,” he said. “But I’ll tell you what, it still feels great coming out of that water. You feel rejuvenated.”