Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla raises $200,000; 404 swimmers, 75+ kayakers, 150 volunteers participate

Warm but choppy water and a warm southwest wind greeted 404 swimmers, 75+ kayakers and safety boats and 150 volunteers on Saturday at the 27th annual Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, which raised an estimated $200,000 for AIDS, women's health & the community. As a good omen, a pod of dolphins appeared in the harbor, east of Long Point, the start of the Swim. The Boatslip Resort, which has been hosting the event since 1989, received the David Asher Volunteer Award for their committment to the community.US Senator Elizabeth Warren, who sent a letter of support, wrote: " I wish I could be with you in Provincetown to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of the Swim for Life and its contributions to the Provincetown community. I'm glad to be able to participate in this small way to help commemorate your work improving the lives of Massachusetts families."The event is produced by the Provincetown Community Compact and organized by director Jay Critchley.Circle of Honor recipients, whoo have swum ten times or raised $ 10,000, and received a handcrafter medallion by Christie Andressen of Taqwa Glassworks, include: Carolyn Placke, Philadelphia, PA; Rhoda Grasberger, Ashland, MA; Jackie Palmer, Acton, MA; Michael Lynch, Dorchester, MA; and Chris Triebert, South Newfane, VT.Forty-one swimmers and kayakers raised over one thousand dollars each in pledges and joined the $ 1,000 Club and received prizes from local businesses totaling $ 10,000 in value. Top fundraisers include: Fred Youngerman, Lenox, MA at $ 12,012; Joel Stahl, Larkspur, CA, $ 6,420; Jonathan Scott, Provincetown, $ 6,100; Peter Mellett, North Truro, MA, $ 5,055; Gene Elizabeth Landis, Amesbury, MA, $ 5,000; Paul Mast, Waldwick, NJ, $ 4,775; Mark Bastian, Boston, $ 4,055; Jane Barber, Breckenridge, CO, $ 4,000; and Ed Moore, Boston, $ 3,385. Abby Walker, 5 years old, swam the 1.4 miles distance in a pool and joined the $ 1,000 Club, along with Kim Oler, who raised pledges for his Rocky Mountain climb.Although not a race, times are kept for swimmers. The fastest swimmer was Brian O'Connor from Washington, DC at 35:35. The fastest female was Katy McCully from Eastham, MA at 36:123. Swimmers hailed from across the country and from Bulgaria and Canada.All participants received a guest pass to the Provincetown Art Association & Museum, celebrating its Centennial, which offered a 1916 etching  by BJO Nordfeldt for this year's Swim design.Other weekend events included the exhuberant Celebration of Life Concert the night before the Swim at the UU Meeting House, produced by John Thomas, and, the Mermaid Brunch on the Boatslip deck following the Swim, catered by Far land Provisions. Zoe Lewis provided entertainment, and the awards ceremony was assisted by Mary Jo Avellar, Town Moderator, and Tom Donegan, Chair of the Board of Selectmen. The 2015, 27th Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla is set for September 12, 2014.Special thanks goes to volunteer crews from Helping Our Women, AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Outer Cape Health Services and Far Land Provisions, Wellfleet and Cape Cod National Seashore lifeguards and support from Provincetown Rescue Squad, US Coast Guard, Provincetown Harbormaster, Funk Bus, Ptown Trolley, Provincetown TV, transport boats Tracey Rose, Cee Jay, Dog Gone Sailing and Dream Catcher, along with Flyer's Boat rentals.Swim beneficiaries include: AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Helping Our Women, Provincetown Schools, Youth Art Reach at Provincetown Art Association & Museum, Lower Cape Ambulance, Soup Kitchen of Provincetown, Outer Cape Health Services, The Compact Community Fund and Provincetown Rescue Squad.Business sponsors include: Lead Sponsor, Seamen's Bank, Media Sponsor, Provincetown Banner, Fanizzi's Restaurant, Lobster Pot Restaurant, Far Land Provisions, Boatslip Resort, Marc Jacobs, Harbor Hotel, Crown & Anchor, Mussel Beach Health Club, Berta Walker Gallery, Shawn Nightingale Productions and Scott A. Allegretti, D.D.S., with support from the Provincetown Visitor Services Board.