OLD ORCHARD BEACH -- Hundreds of hardy souls raced into the waves at Old Orchard Beach, part of a New Year's Day ritual polar dip to benefit the Maine Special Olympics.

A huge crowd gathered to cheer on friends and family members who were taking part in the 21st annual Lobster Dip.

Old Orchard Beach resident Kathleen Chicoine, 57, and her son, Ryan, have done the Lobster Dip for three years running.

"It's such a great cause," she said, getting ready to race out to the water. "You get in the water and the hardest part is you have to go totally under, so you have to keep running and running."

The sun was out, but the temperature was only about 18 degrees. And a steady 20 mph wind made it feel about 1 degree with the wind chill factor, according to the National Weather Service.

The Lobster Dip bills itself as the original polar dip in Maine, but today it is one of several held during the winter months to benefit causes ranging from domestic abuse to animal shelters.

Also held on New Years Day was the 8th annual Atlantic Ocean Plunge at Gooch's Beach in Kennebunk benefitting Caring Unlimited, York County's domestic violence shelter and the Boothbay Harbor Penguin Plunge, benefitting the Boothbay YMCA.

Last year, the Lobster Dip raised $45,000 for Maine Special Olympics, said organization President Phil Geelhoed. Final figures on this year's tally won't be available until Friday, he said.