ITHACA - At least 200 community members joined in the send off for two busloads of Cayuga Health medical professionals as they left for New York Presbyterian Hospital in NYC to provide needed support for COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday.

Cornell University provided two buses to transport the teams downstate to help.

Signs from fellow health care workers and other community members read "Superhero in scrubs" and "We love our health care heroes."

Members of law enforcement escorted the buses as they departed and as the crowd cheered, vehicles honked and signs waved through the air.

“We are proud to be sending such outstanding medical professionals and true ‘Healthcare Heroes’ to assist hard hit NYC in fighting this COVID-19 pandemic,” said Martin Stallone, President and CEO of Cayuga Health.

Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack said the volunteers are acting with courage and compassion in a situation she said is "both unprecedented and incredibly challenging."

Stallone thanked Cornell University for providing the transportation.

“We will continue to do what it takes to fight this epidemic and meet the healthcare needs of our community and beyond,” said Stallone. “We may be a small community, but our employees have huge hearts and we know that we can step up and help out in a big way.”

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