PROVINCETOWN SWIM FOR LIFE TO FEATURE MOTHER-SON TEAM.

Inspired by his mother’s swim at last year’s Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, thirteen year old Matthew Clarkson decided to spend his summer training for this year’s event. Beginning at a month-long summer camp in July, the Brookline resident started training for the 1.4 mile open water swim. This was followed by a stay in Truro where he swam daily with his mother at Fisher Beach − Matthew doing the breast stroke wearing eye goggles, and Susan doing the crawl with snorkel and mask. The last leg of his training regimen will take him to a New Hampshire lake for several weeks of fresh water preparation. The mother-son team will swim together at the September 9^th fundraiser.

Matthew became interested in the event through Dr. Seagle, who has swum the event eight times. He is eager to raise money for the needs of the local community.

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. It includes the Celebration of Life Concert produced by John Thomas, the Mermaid Brunch, an awards ceremony and entertainment. The public is invited to cheer on the swimmers at the Boatslip finish line beginning at 11:30 am. The Mermaid Brunch begins at noon and is open to the public. Swimmers, kayakers, volunteers and support boats are welcome. Wet suits are loaned free to swimmers, who must raise a minimum of $100 in pledges.

T-shirts designed by Paul Bowen are available at the AIDS Support Group summer store at 173 Commercial Street, Venture Athletics, 306 Commercial Street, or through the Swim for Life. For pledge forms and volunteer, Pool Swim for the harborly-challenged, 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.

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