Women Swimmin' - Swimmer Information

Thank you for your interest in swimming for Hospicare and Palliative Care Services! We hope that your swim across Cayuga Lake is both fun and empowering.

The impact of your swim will be felt by our patients and their families throughout the year. The funds you raise enhance our ability to provide the comfort measures our patients and families need, both in hospice and in our palliative care program. These donations also underwrite bereavement and educational services for the community.

Women Swimmin' is a non-competitive, community swim that depends for its success on the cooperation and good will of all involved.

Swimmer's Manual

Swimmer's Manual (PDF: 384K)

All swimmers should read the Swimmer's Manual. The manual contains information about the swim, training, fundraising, and more.

Fundraising

You may be surprised to learn that some people find it more challenging to raise money than swim across the lake! In light of this, we've dreamt up some fun incentives this year. Learn more about incredible prizes, a very stylish comfy sweathshirt, and a tote bag! However, when all is said and done, the biggest incentive may be keeping in mind (and heart) the individuals in our community who will learn that they or someone they love has a life-limiting illness and knowing that the money you raise directly supports their care.

Check-in

Swimmers must come to the Hospicare Center, 172 East King Road in Ithaca, between 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm on FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 to check in. At this time you will:

Receive your t-shirt, swim cap and pod information.
Submit (if you haven't already) a minimum of $100 in sponsorship money.
Receive a handy Women Swimmin' tote bag if you've raised $500 or more.
Receive a comfy Women Swimmin' sweatshirt if you've raised $1,000 or more by July 11.
Meet other swimmers.
Receive instructions for the swim.
Have any last-minute questions answered.

Parking on the Morning of the Swim

Women Swimmin' participants are asked to park at Union Fields in Cass Park. Shuttle buses will be ferrying folks back and forth throughout the morning. Do leave some extra time to park and take a bus to the Ithaca Yacht Club (IYC).

Swimmers can be dropped off directly at the IYC, with cars continuing back to Union Fields to park.

There will be some additional parking spaces available at the Glenwood Pines Restaurant until 11:00 am. If parking here, please use the lower lot and be mindful of traffic as you walk down the hill to the IYC.

To Cass Park

From the northeast: take 13 south to 89 north
From the southeast: take 96B north to downtown Ithaca, turn left at Buffalo St. and turn right on 89 north
From the east: take 79 west to 13 north and turn left on Buffalo St. to 89 north
From the southwest: take 34, 96 or 13 north to 89 north
From the northwest: take 89 north
From the west: take 79 east to 89 north

Cass Park is 0.7 miles north on 89 from the bridge over the Cayuga Lake inlet. Note that 13 separates into two roads, one way north and one way south within the Ithaca City limits.

Other

Island Health and Fitness will be offering a discount for Women Swimmin' registrants. Show your confirmation e-mail and swim at a reduced walk-in rate of $6 per swim.

The Ithaca Swim Club is offering a one-time free swim to all women registered for Women Swimmin'. Swimmers can present their confirmation e-mail to a staff member at the Swim Club as proof of registration. Available lap times are 6:30 am - 10:00 am and 1:00 pm - 7:30 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. For more information, contact Shelly Matheny (smatheny@localnet.com).

The Frame Shop is offering 10% off the cost of plaque mounting Women Swimmin' posters or postcards. (Plaque lamination consists of sealing a document under a protective film in order to adhere it to a mounting surface. All plaques offer protection against UV rays, are washable and durable, and have finished beveled edge contours.) As an added kindness, for every poster or card the Frame Shop plaques, they will give Hospicare 20% of the sale!

Places to Swim in Ithaca

Let the training begin! Remember, training in a pool is important, but pool swimming and lake swimming are very different - nothing beats training in the lake. Do try and swim in the lake as often as you can before August 8.

Indoor Pools

Outdoor Pools

Cayuga Lake

Women Swimmin' Blog

For more information about training, places to swim, and other swimmer questions, check out the blog, created by Marrie Neumer. Marrie was a swim coach for over 20 years and has generously offered to answer any questions about the swim. She has already posted some information about the swim on the blog site.

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