Some Chautauqua County residents braved the arctic cold Sunday to help raise money for Oishei Children's Hospital.

About 40 people waded into icy Lake Erie in Silver Creek for Polar Bear Swim for Charity. The event raises money for Children's Hospital, as well as local first responders and the Silver Creek Food Pantry.

The event's organizer, Pamela Forge, says it's important to support the hospital and its mission of serving the community.   

"We feel that everybody in our community has either used Children's Hospital or know someone who has, and it's been a very important part of our community and we need to keep it going strong with state of the art technology," said Forge. 

Last year, the event raised $10,000 for Children's Hospital.

Organizers say a lighter turnout this year due to the freezing temperatures and the Bills game might prevent them from matching that number this year.