Austin is getting ready to plunge into the annual Paint the Town Pink with one of its signature events.

The annual Plunging for Pink returns to send more than 200 people jumping into East Side Lake around 1:30 p.m. Saturday to raise money to fight breast cancer.

“We want to plunge into the week,” co-organizer Joe Muzik said.

This year’s official sixth PTTP to raise money for The Hormel Institute to research breast cancer cures and treatments runs from Jan. 30 to Feb. 14, with the familiar pink flags and ribbons decorating the city along with numerous “pink” events raising money toward a goal of $200,000.

Saturday’s festivities will also include the Snowmobile Speed Run, which starts at 12 p.m. on East Side Lake.

Now in its fourth year, Plunging for Pink has grown into a mainstay of the breast cancer fundraising blitz that is PTTP.

“It’s become one of the signature events, that along with the hockey game and some of the sports events.”

After being the top PTTP fundraiser with about $59,000 in 2015, Plunging for Pink organizers are making it a bit easier to donate to the cause this year. Thanks to The Hormel Institute’s partnership with the University of Minnesota, the plunge is utilizing the U of M’s Crowdfunding capabilities.

Crowdfunding allows anyone to give to teams or individuals once they sign up. The donations can be made online with no surcharges. All the money goes directly to PTTP.

“This one’s 100 percent to the fund,” Muzik said.

Last year, 238 people jumped into East Side Lake to raise money, and more than 200 were already signed up as of Thursday. The event will take new participants up until the plunge Saturday. Registration opens at 11 a.m., but organizers prefer people to sign up ahead of time for planning purposes and so they can get a T-shirt for participating.

Participants are asked to raise $50 or more to donate to cancer before plunging into East Side Lake.

Muzik and other organizers ask participants to have fun and be safe. Many taking the plunge have taken to wearing fun, wild outfits, which Muzik said has added another level of fun to the event.

“It’s pretty fulfilling for all of us who are involved,” he said

Muzik asked plungers to arrive about 30 or 45 minutes before they’re scheduled to jump. He recommended they wear the clothes they plan to jump in to help speed up the process. Changing and warming stations will again be available. Hy-Vee will be on hand to serve food for the plunge and the speed run.

This year’s post plunge party will be held at the Austin Veterans of Foreign Wars Club, 300 Fourth Ave. NE, at 6 p.m. The event is open to the public and will include awards and a meal serving pulled chicken sandwiches, beef brisket, kettle chips, cookies and coleslaw for a freewill donation. The Bissen Family Band and The Ripdoozers will perform starting at 8 p.m.

PTTP has raised about $554,000 for breast cancer research in its first five years. All money raised goes to The Hormel Institute.

2016 PTTP events

•Jan. 28:  Austin High girls basketball’s pink game, 7:30 p.m.
•Jan. 29:  Austin High boys basketball’s pink game, 7:30 p.m.
•Jan. 30:  Snowmobile Speed Run at East Side Lake, 11 a.m.
•Jan. 30:  Plunging for Pink polar plunge at East Side Lake, 12 p.m. registration opens, 1:30 p.m. plunge
•Jan. 30:  Plunging for Pink post plunge party at the VFW, 6 p.m. meal with 8 p.m. music
•Jan. 30:  Rose Creek Paint the Town Pink: bean bag tourney, vintage sled run, more.
•Jan. 31:  Uniquely Yours Cnavas, Hope Floats at The Eagles, 1:30 p.m.
•Feb. 1-5:  Ellis Middle School’s cancer education week.
•Feb. 3: Uncork & Create PTTP Edition at the ArtWorks Center, 5:30 p.m.
•Feb. 4:  Austin High wrestling’s pink match, 6:30 p.m.
•Feb. 4:  Southland boys basketball pink game, 6:30 p.m.
•Feb. 5:  PTTP Business Expo at Home Federal Bank, 9 a.m.
•Feb. 5:  First Farmers & Merchants Bank serving pink cookies
•Feb. 5-7:  Matchbox Children’s Theatre presents “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” at Paramount Theatre.
•Feb. 6:  Austin Bruins’Paint the Rink Pink hockey game at Riverside Arena, 7:05 p.m.
•Feb. 7:  Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast at the Austin Eagles Club, 9 a.m.
•Feb. 10:  Caregiver Appreciation Day
•Feb. 11: Adams Taco Feed at the Adams Legion, 5 p.m.
•Feb. 13:  Fishing for a Cure ice fishing contest at East Side Lake, noon
•Feb. 14:  Austin YMCA’s ALL Cancer Colors 5K walk/run at the Mower County Fairgrounds, 11 a.m.
•Feb. 14:  Smashing Cancer Demolition Derby at the Mower County Fairgrounds, 2 p.m.
•Feb. 18:  St. Mark’s Bake Sale at St. Mark’s, 11:30 a.m.
•Feb. 20:  Adams Pink Party at the Adams Legion, 11:30 a.m.
•Feb. 27:  Brownsdale Paint the Town Pink

—Source: www.hi.umn.edu/pttp/