Please read this page before pressing "REGISTER" button at bottom!
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To Participate
Registration & Qualification
Thank you for your interest in joining with us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
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Swimmers will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis for the 68 relay positions of the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim, once registration opens at 9:00 a.m. EDT on June 10, 2024. Four spots will be available for each of the 17 swim stages.
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Swimmers may register for any number of stages and may also register additional swimmers (on a single credit card). If registering additional swimmers, please enter THEIR email, phone, and address so we may contact them directly.
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If you are interested in a swim stage that is sold out, you may register for the waitlist for that particular stage. You may join the waitlist for as many stages as desired. If you are registered for another stage, and one of your waitlisted preferences becomes available to you, we will make the transfer for you and settle any difference in entry fees. Replacement swimmers (if needed) will always be summoned from a waitlist on a first-come-first-served basis.
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As a condition of your acceptance to participate, you must commit to being on-site and ready to swim on a scheduled off day occurring both before and after your targeted swim date. This is a 3-day commitment, except for Stage 1 and Stage 17 (the first and last stages), which are 2-day commitments. See Schedule.
This is a historical experience, not a race, and swimmers of all levels are welcome!
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We only ask that applicants can swim at least 1 mile continuously before resting. When registering, we will ask you your time for swimming a mile in a pool. If we estimate that the combined times for a stage's foursome would likely make for a longer time on the water than would be prudent, we reserve the right to refund an entry fee to a slower swimmer in favor of a faster swimmer on the waitlist. While we anticipate and hope this will not happen, this scenario is a little more likely for the longer swim stages. NOTE: Swimmers are NOT required to cover 1 mile in their 30-minute intervals during the event.
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Minors (age 17 and under) must be registered by a parent or adult guardian who is also registered to swim in their foursome.
Fundraising
Thank you for helping to preserve the Whitefish Point Light Station, which safeguards mariners along Lake Superior's "Shipwreck Coast!"
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Each swimmer will be asked to raise a minimum of $2,500 USD for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS), a 501(c)(3) organization, who will be in charge of the preservation project. All funds raised go directly to the charity and are 100% tax deductible. (Entry fees go to Event Marketing Enterprises to manage the event and are not tax deductible).
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Plans for preserving the Whitefish Point Light Station include:
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The GLSHS needs to hire a contractor specialized in the historical preservation of lighthouses. This is not inexpensive.
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There is water intrusion in the lighthouse keepers quarters and roof repair is needed.
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Water is getting in around various windows in the light station. Repairs and window replacements are needed.
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The exterior is overdue for painting and is in need of this protection from the elements (especially the iron tower). The old paint will be scraped, and all exterior surfaces primed and painted.
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The interior is in need of painting.​
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When registering on the RunSignUp platform, you will set up your own online fundraising page that may be shared with all your potential donors for easy credit card payments. We encourage you also to share this website for building enthusiasm among your supporters!
If you receive donor checks, please make sure they are made out to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society and have your name written in the memo line. Please send checks to:
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Event Marketing Enterprises, Inc.
17527 Parkwood Dr., Ste. B
Spring Lake, MI 49456
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Upon receipt, you will be manually credited for raising the amount of the checks. The checks will then be sent to the GLSHS and they will send a thank you/tax receipt to the name and address on the check.
The official fundraising campaign opens on October 15, 2024, but you may begin fundraising immediately following registration to get a head start on the game.
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Three fundraisers will receive the great honor of playing a formal role in the 50th Anniversary Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Event on November 10, 2025, inside the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum! Two nights hotel accommodations at Tahquamenon Suites are included (check in November 9, check out November 11). These Queen Suites will accommodate 4 persons.
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HOW TO QUALIFY: The top two overall fundraisers will receive this honor. A third fundraiser will be drawn from among all swimmers raising more than their $2,500 minimum requirement. Fundraisers will receive one entry in the drawing for each $100 they raise above $2,500. All 68 swimmers have a chance to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
To keep fundraising on track, swimmers will be asked to meet four bimonthly fundraising milestones over an 8-month fundraising campaign. Unfortunately, if a swimmer does not meet their minimum fundraising milestone by the deadline, they will be replaced by a swimmer from the waitlist. Following is the fundraising schedule.
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Fundraising campaign opens on OCTOBER 15, 2024
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$625 raised by DECEMBER 15, 2024
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$1,250 raised by FEBRUARY 15, 2025
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$1,875 raised by APRIL 15, 2025
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$2,500 raised by JUNE 15, 2025
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​IMPORTANT: If registering for more than one stage, please note that your minimum fundraising commitment will be $2,500 for EACH stage. We will adjust your online fundraising page to reflect the total after you register and the above fundraising milestones will be adjusted accordingly.
Entry Fees
Entry Fees range from $500 to $2,000 USD and vary depending on the stage. The majority of the entry fees are $750. The entry fee for each swim stage is listed below.
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STAGE 1: Edmund Fitzgerald Wreck Site - $2,000
STAGE 2: Whitefish Bay Crossing - $1,500
STAGE 3: Sault Ste. Marie / Soo Locks - $1,500
STAGE 4: Upper St. Mary's River - $750
STAGE 5: Lower St. Mary's River - $750
STAGE 6: Lake Huron Crossing - $1,750
STAGE 7: 40-Mile Point - Presque Isle - $750
STAGE 8: Presque Isle - Thunder Bay Island - $750
STAGE 9: Thunder Bay Crossing - $750
STAGE 10: Sturgeon Point - Au Sable - $750
STAGE 11: Saginaw Bay Crossing - $1,500
STAGE 12: Grindstone City - Harbor Beach - $750
STAGE 13: Harbor Beach - Forester / Port Sanilac - $750
STAGE 14: Forester / Port Sanilac - Lexington - $500
STAGE 15: Lexington - Port Huron - $750
STAGE 16: St. Clair River - $1,500
STAGE 17: Lake St. Clair Crossing - $2,000
Refunds & Replacement Swimmers
Prior to the start of the fundraising campaign, entry fees are refundable, provided a paying replacement swimmer from the waitlist is secured by the event.
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During the fundraising campaign, entry fees are refundable if the swimmer has met their next minimum fundraising milestone for the current 2-month fundraising period in which they opt out, and provided a paying replacement swimmer from the waitlist is secured by the event. In this scenario, the replacement swimmer from the waitlist will pay an entry fee and the original swimmer’s entry fee will be refunded. If the swimmer opting out is short in reaching their fundraising milestone, they will receive a refund of their entry fee less the amount of the fundraising shortfall and the RunSignUp processing fee.
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In any of the above scenarios, the replacement swimmer will be responsible for meeting fundraising milestones going forward (adding to the total raised by the original swimmer).
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Following the fundraising campaign, and during the event, a replacement swimmer will simply pay an entry fee with no fundraising requirement (as the minimum fundraising goal has already been met by the original swimmer). The original swimmer’s entry fee is refunded after the event (provided a paying replacement swimmer had been secured).
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In the unlikely event the entire swim is cancelled, entry fees are refundable.
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RunSignUp processing fees and fundraising revenue ARE NOT refundable in any scenario.​
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PLEASE NOTE: When registering, you will be given the opportunity to purchase event insurance through FanShield. Having this coverage will refund your entire entry fee, including the RunSignUp processing fee, if you should have to opt out for any of the 18 covered reasons.