For the first time in its 16-year history, the Hudson River Swim for Life™ is heading upstream with a new swim route from Nyack Memorial Park in Nyack, NY to Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow, NY.
Presented by M&T Bank, the 2007 Hudson River Swim for Life™ and Hudson River 5K Race take place on Sunday, September 9 beginning at 10 a.m.
In conjunction with this event, the Sleepy Hollow Chamber of Commerce will host the first annual Sleepy Hollow Waterfront Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kingsland Point Park. The festival will feature over 40 vendors showcasing their products, as well as music under the gazebo and poets from The Hudson Valley Writers’ Center reading their works. Visitors will also have the unique opportunity to take free tours of the historic lighthouse at Lighthouse Landing. In addition, the Sleepy Hollow Police Department and Tarrytown Honda will give demonstrations on child and infant car seat safety procedures.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with the Sleepy Hollow Chamber of Commerce this year to celebrate the reemergence of the Kingsland Point Park waterfront," remarked Dennis Chillemi, Founder and Swim Director of the Hudson River Swim for Life. "It is our hope that the Swim and Festival will together serve as a catalyst to showcase the potential of the park’s beach areas, as well as fulfill our own mission of raising awareness of the Hudson River and promoting its recreational use."
This past June, 100-year-old philanthropist, Kathryn Wasserman Davis of Tarrytown, donated four million dollars to the environmental group, Scenic Hudson, for the specific purpose of renovating the historic bathhouse at Kingsland Point Park. Key elements to this renovation will include a pedestrian bridge over the train tracks that will dramatically increase access to the park and Hudson River waterfront. Additional ideas for the bathhouse renovation include: an outdoor café, ecological field station with educational displays, kayak rentals, and changing rooms.
"This is a home run for everyone", Sleepy Hollow Mayor Phil Zegarelli said, "since we are all supporting this fantastic cause occurring in a revitalized river; with a scenic and historic site along the Hudson as our backdrop; and the redevelopment of the former GM site at our back.." He added, "This is a time to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Friends of Claire in the midst of one of nature’s more scenic arenas. I hope that this can become an annual event in the future."
Organized by a dedicated group of volunteers, the Hudson River Swim for Life™ typically raises approximately $200,000 in funds each year for local charities. All proceeds from the 2007 Hudson River Swim for Life™ will benefit the Westchester/Hudson Valley Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Hudson River 5K Race, a competitive swim with race categories, will benefit the Friends of Claire foundation, which promotes awareness and supports research for ALS Disease.
There are still many ways to get involved with these events. The Swim Committee is looking for more swimmers, kayakers, volunteers and sponsors. For information, call The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Westchester/Hudson Valley Chapter at 914/949-0084 or visit http://www.hudsonriverswim.org. To learn more about the Sleepy Hollow Waterfront Festival, visit http://www.sleepyhollowchamber.com.
