PROVINCETOWN HARBOR ABLAZE IN COLOR AT SWIM FOR LIFE.

With anxious first-time swimmers, seasoned tri-athletes, and ten year olds to 85 year olds ready to take the plunge, the Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla is a go this weekend. In its 19^th year, this traditional post-Labor Day event has evolved into the premier fundraiser and community gathering of the year. Swimmers and kayakers may register the morning of the event, Saturday, and volunteers and boaters are still being recruited. All events are free and open to the public.

If you’re not already swimming, kayaking, volunteering or working three jobs, come on down to magnificent Provincetown Harbor and witness the spectacle of 300 green, neon-capped swimmers and dozens of kayaks and boaters create an inspiring performance piece The feat of transporting 300 swimmers in an hour to Long Point for the start requires the volunteer help of the Ptown Trolley, Viking Princess, Cee Jay, Flyer’s and dozens of smaller motor craft. Supporting this well-orchestrated event are the U.S. Coast Guard, Provincetown Rescue Squad and Harbormaster, lifeguards and safety boaters and the Swim for Life medical team at the Boatslip beach.

At the finish line, swimmers will be greeted by a kinetic array of Prayer Ribbons along the Boatslip deck, and hundreds of spectators, cheerleaders, fans and a cadre of  finish line volunteers -- greeters, huggers, escorts, marshals, security, tabulators and hot tea.

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. Business sponsors for this year to date include: The Provincetown Banner, Mike’s Movies/Boston, Paul Mitchell,  Boatslip Resort, and Far Land Provisions. 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.

The event will be held at the Boatslip Resort, 161 Commercial Street. Kayak and boater registration is from 8:30-10:30 am; swimmer registration, 9:30-10:30 am; Pool Swim registration for the "harborly-challenged", 9:00-10:00 am at Surfside Hotel & Suites; the public greets the swimmers at the Boatslip deck, 11:30 am-1:30 pm; Mermaid Brunch at the Boatslip, catered by Far Land Provisions featuring Zoe Lewis and The Rubber Band, noon-2:00 pm; awards ceremony, with David Asher Volunteer Award presented to Jan Kelly,1:30 pm. Provincetown Harbor Lights at dusk at MacMillan Wharf; Helping Our Women Dance, 8:00 pm, VFW Hall (free to swimmers); Schooner Regatta in the harbor on Sunday (storm date for Swim is Sunday).The Celebration of Life Free Concert produced by John Thomas kicks off the weekend on Friday at 8:00 pm at the Meeting House.

T-shirts designed by Paul Bowen are available at Venture Athletics, 306 Commercial Street, and at Swim for Life events. Prayer Ribbons, which presently fly above Commercial Street at the Meeting House, will be available throughout the weekend to be inscribed with the names of  people we honor in our lives. For pledge forms and volunteer opportunities or additional 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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