“IC PLUNGE! IC PLUNGE!” chanted approximately 50 college students clad in bathing suits on the shore of Lake Michigan on a cold, rainy Saturday just before they took off sprinting into the ice-cold water.

For the sixth year, Loyola University Chicago’s Invisible Conflicts club hosted the IC Plunge, where students collect donations and take a dip in the lake on Dec. 3 to generate funds for the Dwon Madiki Partnership—a group focused on funding the schooling of northern Ugandan children who have been displaced as a result of warfare carried out by the Lord’s Resistance Army. All proceeds from the Plunge went directly to Dwon Madiki, of which Invisible Conflicts is the sole sponsor.

With this year’s goal of $8,000 in mind, Invisible Conflicts urged anyone who was able to make a trip to Hartigan Park Beach, 1031 W. Albion Ave., to take the plunge.

“The IC Plunge serves as a youthful and daring approach to raising not only funds, but also awareness about sociopolitical issues around our globe,” said Katie Scrantom, co-founder of Invisible Conflicts. “It’s a celebration that allows us to give our excessive resources to a few kids who simply want to keep going to school with enough school supplies in hand and the support of their friends across the ocean.”

At noon at the Crown Center for the Humanities, 1001 W. Loyola Ave., participants slowly began to trickle in for registration. As the hour leading up to the Plunge progressed, the trickle grew to a flood of more than 65 registered supporters. Although more than 65 registered, not all took the plunge. Several opted to stay dry, but most of the group waited eagerly to test out the water on the 47-degree day.

“I want to see how cold the water is,” said Nick Greenhalgh, a Loyola student who participated in the Plunge for the first time. “And it’s for a good cause. I saw the signs [posted] around, and I thought it would be a good thing to try.”

The crowd’s anticipation rose with each passing minute until 1 p.m., when the group made its way from the Crown Center to the beach for its 1:15 p.m. swim. As the group approached the shore, clothes began to fly and shrieks ensued as plungers stripped down to their swimwear and embraced the initial shock of the frigid cold.

Following a group photo and plenty of spirit-boosting chants, the crowd took off running into the still water, screaming and splashing about as they trekked deeper into the freezing waters.

Most of the group returned to shore after approximately 15 seconds in the water, with very few lasting much longer. Emerging from the water, the swimmers sprinted to their belongings, desperately wrapping themselves in towels, coats and anything else they could get their hands on.

Following the Plunge, the soggy supporters marched back to the Crown Center for a reception. There, participants changed out of their wet clothes and warmed up while enjoying free refreshments and learning more about the children sponsored by Dwon Madiki.

“By having events such as the IC Plunge, worldwide conflicts are becoming more visible,” said Kelly Joy, a member of Invisible Conflicts.

According to Angela Wells, co-president of Invisible Conflicts, the group has two goals: to raise awareness about issues “ignored” by Western media and to create change. Wells expressed hope that the organization’s involvement with the Dwon Madiki Partnership will allow Invisible Conflicts to perform the latter.

“I think that at the root of any social change is building relationships and realizing our connections,” Wells said. “In reality, we’re all very interconnected.”

For more information on Invisible Conflicts and the Dwon Madiki Partnership, visit InvisibleConflictsLoyola.Wordpress.com.