The 35th Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla set for September 10, 2022

Prayer Ribbons create a memorial garden during the 34th Swim for Life.

Celebrating a thirty-five year community tradition, the Provincetown Community Compact presents the Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla fundraiser, on September 10, 2022. The 35th Swim, along the East End shoreline of Provincetown Harbor, will begin on the beach at the Breakwater and Harbor Hotels and end at the new Cannery Wharf Park. Start time is 11:00 am.

Watch parties along the shore are organizing to cheer the swimmers on. The finish line at the big white tent will feature the Prayer Ribbons Garden, a 150-foot half circle installed on the beach in front of the retaining wall, to celebrate and memorialize our loved ones. The public is invited to share this post-Labor Day tradition along the shore and greet swimmers at the finish line at Cannery Wharf Park where there will be food, beverage and entertainment. 

A parallel Swim for Life will take place at Wellfleet’s Great Pond, also on September 10.

“We are thrilled to be back at the town’s new spectacular waterfront park and welcome swimmers, kayakers, volunteers, safety boaters and our fans from across the country,” stated Jay Critchley, Director of The Compact. All interested in participating may sign up at Swim4Life.org.

The quintessential event, which has raised over $6M for AIDS, women’s health and the community, attracted over 250 swimmers last year, including 33 swimmers “Swimming in Place” around the country. Over 100 volunteers are invited to assist on land and sea, including kayakers. Transport to the start will be provided by the Funk Bus and the famous Mermaid Brunch will be catered by Far Land Provisions, with the world-traveling Zoe Lewis providing the music.

Beneficiaries of the September 10 Swim include: the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod (ASGCC), Helping Our Women (HOW), Outer Cape Health Services, Provincetown Rescue Squad Association, Lower Cape Ambulance Association, Soup Kitchen in Provincetown (SKIP), Provincetown Schools, The Compact Community Fund, Accessible Provincetown, West End Racing Club, Cape Cod Children’s Place and Native Land Conservancy.

Lead event sponsor is Seamens Bank; business sponsors to date include: Fanizzi’s Restaurant, Boatslip Resort & Beach Club, Lobster Pot Restaurant, Far Land Provisions, Cape Air, Bay State Cruise, Berta Walker Gallery, Art’s Dune Tours, WOMR 92.1 FM, Provincetown Aquasports, Cape Cod 5, Cranberry Square Dermatology, The Palette Fund, Arthur H. Platt Trust, Masthead Resort & Cottages and Premier Real Estate, with support from the Provincetown Visitor Services Board.

This year’s Swim design “My Studio” is by Tod Lindenmuth,1885-1976, one of the founders of the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. The image is in the Museum’s collection.  “My Studio” portrays an historic seaside structure with a woman and child heading towards the water. For the Swim t-shirt and elegant media design, it is printed with a vibrant blue on a soft black cotton shirt. The shirts are available at swim4life.org or at Provincetown Aquasports, 333R Commercial Street, Provincetown.