Francey Beall and Kathryn Rafter at Swim for Life Mermaid Brunch with the Lobster Man Dallas team fundraises for the Swim for Life How does a second home owner connect with the spirit of the Provincetown community? Participate in the Swim for Life says Kathryn Rafter, who, along with her partner Francey Beall, have swum in the fundraiser since 2000 and raised $26,600. Rafter was raised on Long Island near plenty of water and now lives in Dallas, Texas with her partner Beall, who hails from Tyler, Texas. They joined the Swim for Life Circle of Honor in 2002, an elite honor for those who have raised $10,000 or swum in ten events. “The Swim for Life is a potent statement about who we are as a community and what we want to be ? a caring community,” says Rafter, who splits her time between Provincetown and Dallas. “It’s a doable challenge with all the right elements ? the water, the harbor, the Celebration of Life Concert, the Prayer Ribbons, the lighthouse. It’s an easy way to feel good,” she adds. Her community service recently expanded to include working as the consultant for the town through a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant. She is facilitating a task force charged with finding creative strategies to leverage the arts and culture to stimulate economic activity for the town. Speaking from her West End home, Rafter describes their first foray into the Swim for Life with their inflatable boat, helping swimmers along the swim route, although one participant asked her to stop singing so she could focus on her swimming. Why paddle when you can swim they reasoned, so the pair hit the water the next year and began their legendary fundraising, which includes a letter with last year’s humorous stories, photos, and the pitch: “Avoid feeling guilty after the event for not giving now!” It doesn’t hurt that Rafter has an eager pool of client CEOs she can tap, many who are competitive and team players. Last year one complained that the Rafter/Beall team only placed second in overall fundraising, behind Shawn and Nicole McNulty. That’s got to change he said, with checkbook in hand. For Rafter and Beall it’s all about contributions not competition, and they’re honored to stand alongside the McNultys. The 18th Annual Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, a fundraiser for AIDS, women’s health and youth, is scheduled for September 10, 2005. This year’s event will include the traditional Friday night Celebration of Life Concert at the Meeting House presented by John Thomas, and the post-swim Mermaid Brunch at the Boatslip Resort. The Pool Splash will run concurrently for those who choose to swim in a pool or are “harborly-challenged.” The second annual Provincetown Harbor Lights, created by Ewa Nogiec, planned for dusk, will conclude the weekend. The 2005 t-shirts, designed by Sally Brophy, are available at Venture Athletics Outdoor Shop, 306 Commercial Street, Unit 3. Beneficiaries of the event include Helping Our Women, the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Outer Cape Health Services, Cape and Islands Gay Straight Youth Alliance and the Provincetown AIDS History Project. Sponsors to date include the Provincetown Banner, Mike's Movies/Boston, Paul Mitchell, the Boatslip Resort, Far Land Provisions, Provincetown Visitor Services Board and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Swim for Life is produced by the Provincetown Community Compact, Inc. Registration on September 10 for kayakers and safety boaters begins at 8:30 am at the Boatslip Resort beach, 161 Commercial Street, with swimmer registration on the deck at 9:30 am. Swimmers will be transported to Long Point for the 11:00 am start. The public is invited to cheer swimmers at the finish line beginning at 11:30 am, followed by the Mermaid Brunch at noon on the Boatslip deck. For pledge forms and volunteer, Pool Splash, or Provincetown Harbor Lights information, or to make a contribution, contact: thecompact@comcast.net, 508 487-1930, www.swim4life.org, or write, Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, P.O. Box 819, Provincetown, MA 02657. Friday Sept 8 8:00 PM Celebration of Life Concert @ Universalist Meeting House Saturday Sept 9 8:30 - 10:30 AM Kayak / Paddler Flotilla Registration @ Boatslip Resort 9:30 - 10:30 AM Swimmer Registration @ Boatslip Resort 11:00 AM Swim for Life Begins from Long Point 11:30 AM Public Greets Swimmers 12:00 - 3:00 PM Mermaid Brunch @ Boatslip Resort Sunday Sept 10 Starting at dusk Provincetown Harbor Lights at MacMillan Wharf