Krossin’ Keuka is a Community Event

By Laurie Adams Gifford While the rays of the sun setting over Keuka Lake send their golden glow into the rooms at Keuka Comfort Care Home (KCCH), volunteers inside are putting their hearts into compassionate care for residents who are embarking on their next journey. While neither the recipients of this care, nor their families, receive a bill, thanks to the many volunteers and supporters of KCCH, important fundraisers take place each year in order to carry on its mission.

“How four walls and a roof can hold so much compassion is beyond belief.” This was the sentiment shared in last year’s obituary for local winery owner Elizabeth Prejean who was a resident at Keuka Comfort Care Home for her final journey.

The KCCH’s biggest fundraiser of the year is the much-anticipated community event, Krossin’ Keuka, a .67 mile swim across Keuka Lake to Point Neamo at Keuka College. This year it will be held Saturday, July 29.

Arianne Tepper, a retired nurse and a swimmer in Krossin’ Keuka, has been fundraising for KCCH since the first one back in 2009.

She appreciates the mission of KCCH and swims for that reason.

“I see this (KCCH) as a truly final gift of love and compassion. We are all on the same journey, and it helps to educate, give support, get support, and understand acceptance of the cycle of life.”

But swim day is the end product of months of arduous training and preparation.

During the seven months of planning, the committee of twelve holds numerous safety meetings and trainings.

The event requires a regatta permit, as well as coordination with Yates County Marine Patrol, Penn Yan Ambulance, ten or more lifeguards, six safety boats, six pontoon boats, thirty kayakers who act as spotters for swimmers who might struggle, one anchor boat, and dozens of volunteers. Each year has a theme, and the theme for 2023 is a “1960’s Beach Party.” This is a fun, family-style event intended to bring the community together while raising money for a worthy cause. In fact, spectators are encouraged to come to cheer on the swimmers, whether they know them or not.

This swim isn’t just for trained swimmers.

Krossin’ Keuka is not a race.

Participants are allowed to use flotation devices such as life jackets, kickboards, noodles, etc. In the past, the oldest swimmer was 90 years old, while the youngest was 9 years old. (Children under 16 must swim with a parent or guardian.) It’s accessible to anyone who loves to swim.

Local resident Sarah Hestley has no direct connection with KCCH, yet she swims every year since 2016.

“We like to support this wonderful, local resource (KCCH).

Both my parents passed using hospice care. I will always be grateful for the care my parents received and want to support Keuka Comfort Care in their mission.”

While the largest number of swimmers in Krossin’ Keuka are locals, people come from all over the country to participate.

In the past, Texas, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, California, Indiana, Florida, Maine, North and South Carolina, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois have all been represented (as well as some other states). Some folks have even come from as far away as Taiwan, Finland, and Germany.

“Our participation started with our daughter wanting to participate,” Sarah Hestley said.

“She was a swimmer all through high school and college. After watching her swim it and cheering her on, my husband said, ‘We should do this.’ I thought he meant volunteer to help with the event, but he meant swim. I thought he was crazy, but we have swum in it ever since.”

Krossin’ Keuka is the largest annual fundraising event for Keuka Comfort Care Home. Registration for the event is $25, then each swimmer agrees to raise a minimum of $150 in donations. Paid registrants receive a free t-shirt and breakfast on the beach. The t-shirt color is a surprise every year, and those who are regular participants look forward to adding a new, unique t-shirt to their collection.

Typically, the event has approximately 150 swimmers, but one year there were around 230. The goal is 200. Anne Killen shared that while they’ll always welcome more swimmers, there’s a specific need this year for more kayakers, who must provide their own kayaks.

“I love to kayak, and the fact that I can be out there on the ready for these brave swimmers is rewarding,” past kayaker Laurie Gifford Adams said. “Each year I’ve had to assist swimmers in multiple ways.

Sometimes they just need a little break to catch their breath, and sometimes they need encouragement to keep going. I could never do the swim, but I know that being a kayaker is just as important. My father, Ed Gifford, was a recipient of the compassionate care at KCCH, so I know how important this mission is.”

If you’re interested in making a difference, you can participate, too.

Registration for swimmers and kayakers is open until July 1 to be guaranteed an event t-shirt. To register for the July 29th event, go to the website krossinkeuka.org.

Besides the satisfaction of helping to raise money to continue the mission of KCCH, there are great prizes.

• Highest Fundraiser receives a personal Seaplane tour of Keuka Lake and the surrounding vineyards

• Second Highest Fundraiser receives a chauffeured limousine wine tour for four people

• Team who raises the most money receives a “Basket of Cheer” filled with local delights

• Everyone who

raises $500-$999 receives a custom limited edition Krossin’ Keuka Peace-Love-- Swim magnet & dry pouch at check-in

• Everyone who raises $1,000+ receives an exclusive embroidered Krossin’ Keuka hat.

If you want to support a swimmer or just donate, go to KrossinKeuka.org or mail a check to Keuka Comfort Care Home, Krossin’ Keuka Swim, P.O.

Box 107, Penn Yan, NY 14527. Be sure to note if your donation is in support of a particular swimmer or team.

The culmination of all the preparation can be summed up by Arianne Tepper.

“I jump off the boat out in the middle of the lake, watched by the Willow Grove cottagers who are sipping their morning coffees. Then, it’s a triumph every year to make it across and successfully climb out of the lake onto the beach knowing we’ve raised a lot of dear dollars for such a good cause.”

Even though this isn’t a race, there are winners.

It’s the future residents who will be recipients of the amazing care given at Keuka Comfort Care Home.

Krossin’ Keuka takes place on Saturday, July 29 at Point Neamo, Keuka College. Krossinkeuka.org

Krossin’ Keuka is a Community Event

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