Kindness & Compassion
/This was published in the Provincetown Banner, our Media Sponsor:By Irene Rabinowitz, Helping Our Women As we prepare for the 26th Annual Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, we look back at the early days of the AIDS epidemic and the Swim for Life’s emotional beginning. We can all be proud of the Swim’s tradition of caring and remembrance while celebrating the continued belief that our friends and neighbors are important, especially when coping with a serious illness. The Swim’s recent focus is not just HIV/AIDS, but women’s health, disease prevention and early intervention, and other services that make our community safer and healthier.Helping Our Women is celebrating our 20th anniversary. Created as a response to the lack of resources for women living with serious illnesses, HOW has thrived in recent years in part because of the solid relationship with the Provincetown Community Compact (The Compact), sponsor of the event. Not only have we been the recipient of funding since 1996, but we now house the “Provincetown Community Compact Conference Room” in our new office. We move to a new fully accessible office last year that allows us to better serve the community.
The spirit of the Swim is one that has a strong influence on a community-based organization like HOW. We grew from the grass roots of community activism to an organization serving over 200 people a year, including our core constituency of women living with serious illness as well as men, families…anyone in need of an advocate and access to resources. Our ability to provide financial assistance, transportation to medical appointments, sponsor support groups and respond quickly to community needs is only possible because of the generosity of so many.The people we serve have been diagnosed with cancer, AIDS/HIV, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, respiratory diseases, mental illness and other conditions that make day-to-day life difficult. Living on the Lower Cape can be difficult if you are living with a serious illness and the funding from the Swim makes it possible for your local organizations to respond and provide assistance that lessens the burden. We see the hard work of those at the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Outer Cape Health Services, Lower Cape Ambulance and the Rescue Squad as our partners in this effort, all funded by The Compact’s annual Swim for Life, which makes it possible for coordinated care.At this year’s Swim, we will see so many of our friends swimming, volunteering, pledging, and cheering. We are thankful for this kindness and compassion that keeps the Swim as a beacon of light for those who are need of the services of all of the beneficiaries.The 26th Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla is set for Saturday, September 7. Sponsors to date include: the Provincetown Banner, Boatslip Resort, Seamen’s Bank, Far Land Provisions, Fanizzi’s Restaurant, Lobster Pot Restaurant, Harbor Hotel, Marc Jacobs, Mussel Beach Health Club and the Crown & Anchor The Swim is also funded in part by the Provincetown Tourism Fund.The organic, 100% cotton 2013 t-shirts by Wendelin Glatzel are on sale at Seamen’s Bank, downtown.For swimmer, kayaker, volunteer and sponsorship information: www.swim4life.org, thecompact@comcast.org. The Provincetown Community Compact sponsors the event, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded by Jay Critchley in 1993 to enhance the well being of Provincetown and the Lower Cape.
