Paddler/Boater Registration

If you are interested in volunteering as a paddler or a power boater/wave runner, please click the "Register" tab at the top. 

Contact Us

Email: womenswimmin@hospicare.org

Phone: 607-272-0212

The 21st Women Swimmin' for Hospicare

Women Swimmin' for Hospicare is a community swim for women ages 18 and over. Early in the morning on August 10, 2024, approximately 300 women will swim across Cayuga Lake, a distance of 1.2 miles. The swimmers will be supported by more than 125 boaters guiding them from the east shore to the Ithaca Yacht Club, where more than 100 volunteers, plus friends and family, will greet them with cheers and congratulations.

How it works

Registration for participants -- swimmers, paddlers, and Go the Distance fundraisers -- opens at 7:00 a.m. on May 8, 2024. (Please note registration for lake swimmers closes when we reach our maximum of 325 lake swimmers).

There is a registration fee for Lake Swimmers, however this fee is applied to your fundraising total.

You can easily create a participant page where you can tell your story and share why you're participating. Share your page with your friends, family, colleagues, and loved ones to ask for their support to help you reach your goal. 

All money raised benefits the work of Hospicare. Join us for this spectacular summer tradition! 

Please scroll down to review more important dates and pre-event details!

 

Women Swimmin' for Hospicare

Open-Water Personal Swim Buoy is Required

This year, an open-water personal swim buoy is required for all lake swimmers on the day of the event, and if you attend Shane's open-water swim clinics. This will improve your overall safety while you're swimming in the lake. 

If you would like to purchase a swim buoy, click here:

Amazon Shop

We have 150 high-quality FREE swim buoys (donated to Hospicare by New Wave Gear) to give out! So if you don't already own your own, come and get 'em! Limit one buoy per Women Swimmin' swimmer please:

Swim Buoy Request Form

Thank you for your understanding and support!

Women Swimmin' Event Day Timeline

   
Sunrise HAB Harriers from Finger Lakes Watershed Network and the Community Science Institute begin a visual inspection of the swim course to look for signs of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).  
6:10 a.m. Women Swimmin' staff and Safety Team meet to make decisions, based on a detailed weather forecast, lake conditions, reports from HAB harriers, and other environmental concerns. Check Facebook for cancellation updates. 
6:15 a.m. Lake swimmers begin to gather for check-in at Cass Park Rink, according to their pod assignment.
6:30 a.m. TCAT shuttles start running from Cass Park Union Fields to IYC (only for spectators and volunteers).
7:10 a.m. The first pod of swimmers enters the water for their swim across the lake!
7:30 a.m. Breakfast opens for spectators and volunteers.
7:45 a.m. The Yardvarks begin to play, merchandise and raffle sales open, and swimmers begin arriving back at IYC.
11:00 a.m. Final swimmers complete their swim and arrive at IYC.
11:15 a.m. Closing ceremonies, award presentation, drawing of raffle winner
11:30 a.m. Clean-up begins. Feel free to stay and help!
12:30 p.m. Last run of shuttle buses from IYC to Cass Park

Packet Pick-Up Dates

All swimmers, Go the Distance fundraisers, boaters/paddlers (who are fundraising), and volunteers are welcome to pick up their packets at any of our three packet pick-up times. Packet Pick-Ups are located at Hospicare 172 E. King Road. If you are not able to make any of these dates or times, you may have a family member or friend pick up your packet for you!

  • Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

  • Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

If you are fundraising - Please bring any additional cash or check donations. These donations will be added to your fundraising total to help you earn fabulous incentive gifts.

Merchandise -  We will have t-shirts, thank you notes, hats, and other goodies for sale. (Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted).

Boater and Paddler Meetings

Mandatory Kayak Safety Team Training 

Date: Thursday, August 1, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Location: Taughannock State Park

Optional Paddler Clinic

Date: Monday, August 5, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Location: Ithaca Yacht Club

Mandatory Power Boater/Wave Runner Meeting

Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Location: Ithaca Yacht Club

Mandatory Paddler Safety Meeting

Date: Thursday, August 8, 2024

Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Location: Ithaca High School Claude Kulp Auditorium

Optional Swim Clinics with Shane Eversfield

Join Shane Eversfield, who has taught many open-water clinics through Total Immersion Swim in New York, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Singapore! These optional swim clinics are a significant opportunity for those who are nervous about swimming in the lake, or who would like to just brush up on their open-water swimming skills! The swim clinics are held at Taughannock State Park off the North Shore, an open-water swim buoy is required. To learn more about Shane, visit his website https://kaizen-durance.com/

If you would like Hospicare to provide you with an open-water swim buoy, and you are attending one of Shane's open-water swim clinics, we can arrange for you to pick up your buoy at the swim clinic.

You must register to attend. Please click the "Register for a Swim Clinic" button below.

  • Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM

  • Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 10:00 AM

  • Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 5:00 PM

  • Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 10:00 AM

  • Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 5:00 PM 

  • Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 5:00 PM