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Provincetown is an historic fishing village,
art colony, and gay and lesbian resort on the
tip of Cape Cod, surrounded by the National Seashore.
It has been devastated by the AIDS epidemic.
Although changing dramatically, Provincetown is
a geographically isolated and economically depressed
community, 50 miles from a hospital and large
retail outlet, with one of the lowest per capita
incomes in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The unemployment in the winter hovers around 50%.
Provincetown's beauty, carefree attitude, art
and history continue to draw crowds of tourists
here each summer to experience the magic and healing
of this spiral spit of sand. People from all over
the country think of Provincetown as their spiritual
home. It is this connection that inspired the
Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life.
In the summer of 1988, Jay Critchley and Walter
McLean wanted to test their swimming ability by
swimming across Provincetown Harbor. That summer,
many New England beaches were closed due to pollution,
but the Cape-tip beaches remained swimmable. The
two made the swim and two weeks later organized
the first Swim for Life, which continues to celebrate
the healing waters and ecology of the harbor,
while raising money for local health services.
The first year 16 swimmers raised $7,000. Always
held the weekend after Labor Day and the busy
tourist season, the event has grown to attract
swimmers from throughout the country and abroad.
With the assistance of 200 volunteers and 300
swimmers, the annual fall ritual has become an
event that defines the best of the Provincetown
spirit.
In 1991, Hellen Roczcewski, a local gourmet chef,
produced the first legendary Mermaid Brunch, which
immediately followed the Swim. This annual feast
is now attended by 1,000 people. The Brunch, along
with the Celebration of Life Concert begun by
John Thomas and Jim Vincent in 1994, has propelled
the Swim for Life into a weekend long celebration.
e and add to the display.
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