The Polar Ice Dip raised between $52,000 and $60,000 Saturday afternoon for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, according to Sheri Huff of Lee’s Family Trailer.

Huff, who is a Rotarian and owns Lee’s Family Trailer, was an organizer, sponsor and participant. She and about 200 other daredevils dove into a hole cut in the ice at Point Sebago in Casco and collected pledge money from family, friends and coworkers.

Huff said the 1,000 or so spectators was the largest crowd the event has had in Derby history. She jumped in the first wave and wrapped herself in a thick white robe as soon as she got out of the water.

“It was really cold, but it goes by in two seconds,” said Jennifer Gaboury, 17, of Readfield who raised $120 for her icy plunge. She said she expected it to be colder.

“I’ve always wanted to do this,” said Nancy O’Halloran of Cumberland, R.I. She owns a home at Point Sebago and said she raised $425 in pledges. She said her next goal is to swim the mile and a half Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.

Two volunteers in cold-water scuba gear and a metal ladder were inside the rectangle of open water in case any of the jumpers had trouble getting out.

200 participate in Polar Ice Dip200 participate in Polar Ice Dip