A brilliant summer day greeted the 19^th Annual Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla benefit on Saturday, September 9 as 300 swimmers took to the water for the 1.4 mile crossing. With a flotilla of 75 kayakers, dozens of support boats, the Provincetown Rescue Squad, the Provincetown Harbormaster, a dozen lifeguards organized by Patrick Finn of Wellfleet and the U.S. Coast Guard, the harbor was ablaze with bright colors as the full moon high tide assisted the swimmers towards the Boatslip beach.

Jan Kelly, a long time Swim for Life volunteer who has offered her time and energy unceasingly to Provincetown organizations and individuals, received the David Asher Volunteer Award.

The 300 swimmers were transported to Long Point with the help of Ptown Trolley, Cee Jay, Flyer’s Boatyard, Provincetown Harbormaster and numerous other motor boats. Just before the 11:00 am start of the event, swimmers Kathryn Rafter and Francey Beall took the plunge into marriage in a “private“ceremony at Long Point, and then dove into the seasonally warm water for their reception on shore. And for the second year in a row, these Provincetown and Dallas residents raised the highest amount of pledges, $13,035. Right behind then at $10,460 were Shawn McNulty and his daughter Nicole of Provincetown. Other top fundraisers include: Daryel Duhaime of Wakefield, MA at $5,265; Dan Guerrera of New York City at $5,000, and the first to cross the finish line at 29 minutes, 29 seconds; Paul Mast of Waldwick, New Jersey at $3,668; Taylor Polites of Provincetown at $3,470; John Hopkins of Truro at $3,120; Chris Chappa of Norwalk, CT at $2,565; Greg Anton of Provincetown at $2,100; and Victor Pardi of Provincetown at $2,040.

Swimmers who entered the Circle of Honor – established to honor those who have swum either ten times or raised $10,000 – include:  Mary T. Howard, Roslindale, MA; Ken Smith, Boston, MA; Cindy Ellen Phelps, NH; Gene Elizabeth Landis, Amesbury, MA; Pam Suprenant, Webster, MA; Judy Ullman, Newburyport, MA; and Leonardo Torres, Brookline, MA. A handcrafted, glass medallion created by Kaolin Davis was presented to each recipient.

Nancy Civetta, an inspired three-time swimmer from Wellfleet and Somerville, crossed the entire swim route doing the difficult butterfly stroke. Barbara Punis once again swam the 126 laps – the equivalent of 1.4 miles – in the Surfside Hotel & Suites pool, participating in the Pool Swim for “the harborly-challenged”.

A number of teams once again highlighted the event, including 28 swimmers from LANES Boston, 20 members of the girl’s swim team from Wellesley High School, a mother/son team of Susan Austrian and Matthew Clarkson – the youngest swimmer, age  13 – from Chestnut Hill, MA, and a memorial team in honor of Swim for Life swimmer Carolyn Bell who died tragically in car accident, including the oldest swimmer, Harry Arnini, 85, of West Hartford, CT, his daughter, granddaughter and several of Bell’s friends.

A spirited Celebration of Life Concert at the Meeting House, produced by John Thomas, kicked off the weekend, reuniting the women drummers after several years’ absence. Zoe Lewis and the Rubber Band kept thousands on the Boatslip deck jumping while the cheerleaders, medical team and finish line contingent greeted swimmers in waist deep water below. Prayer Ribbons – colored ribbons inscribed with the names of those we love – were strung along the deck railing and were a visual witness to the celebratory events of the weekend.

The traditional Mermaid Brunch, with the awards ceremony, was catered by Far Land Provisions, a business sponsor. Other business sponsors included the Provincetown Banner, Paul Mitchell, Mike’s Movies/Boston and the Boatslip Resort. The weekend fundraiser is sponsored in part by the Provincetown Tourism Fund and the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is produced by the Provincetown Community Compact, Inc., directed by artist Jay Critchley.

The Swim for Life benefits the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Helping Our Women, Outer Cape Health Services, Cape & Island Gay Straight Youth Alliance, Provincetown Rescue Squad and the Lower Cape Ambulance Association.

A limited number of t-shirts designed by Paul Bowen are available through the Swim for Life. The 20^th Annual Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla is scheduled for September 8, 2007. For pledge forms, volunteer and Pool Swim 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.

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Cape Cod Times article: http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/divinginto10.htm