At the Heart Stopper Challenge at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday are Team Rainbow members (from left) Peter Claman (22), Fiona Sinclair (22), Jenn Bloemsaat (23), Gemma Strafton (29), Kate Reid (23) and Laura McCambridge (23). Photo by Linda Robertson.
Family Support volunteer Mel Ryall said 75 people raised $5400 to help support children with heart defects through life.
There were 180 Dunedin families who had children with heart defects, she said.
The children suffered from a range of defects which ranged from ''from a hole in the heart to what my 1-year-old son Charlie has got, which is a severe hypoplastic left-heart syndrome, which is pretty much half a heart'', Mrs Ryall said.
The Dunedin event was the third of 10 nationwide and $37,000 had been raised collectively so far.
Accident Compensation Corporation staff member Gemma Strafton, of Dunedin, said she enjoyed the crisp polar plunge.
''It's five minutes for a good cause.''
