The 36Th Provincetown Swim For Life and Paddler Flotilla Welcomes 250 Swimmers, Raises Over $225,000 For Aids, Women’s Health, and The Community
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As the humidity rose and the rain held off, 250 swimmers hit the warm waters of Provincetown Harbor and Wellfleet’s Great Pond at the 36th Provincetown Swim for Life & Peddler Flotilla, presented by the Provincetown Community Compact, on Saturday, September 9, 2023.
The early 8:30 am starting time in Provincetown Harbor, in conjunction with the high tide, didn’t affect the turnout and the approximately $225,000 raised from swimmers and kayakers from across the country. This quintessential Provincetown tradition raises funds for twelve non-profit beneficiaries and was supported by twenty-two business sponsors.
A parallel freshwater Swim event was held at Wellfleet’s Great Pond with thirty-eight swimmers, while a dozen swimmers were “Swimming in Place” in locations in Florida, Connecticut, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Registration for swimmers, kayaks, and walkers was held at Canary Wharf Park, flanked by the Prayer Ribbons Garden on the beach, under a big white tent where one hundred volunteers staffed the data collection and the distribution of wetsuits, t-shirts, Prayer Ribbons, and water and treats from the Blue Monkey Cafe & Bistro. Swimmers were escorted to the Funk Bus for transport to the beach across from the Breakwater Hotel for the start.
The 1.2-mile swim route along the East End shoreline was sprinkled with over fifty kayaker supporters, three Harbormaster boats, and cheering watch parties at St. Mary of the Harbor and Cape Codder Guest House beach, as well as at numerous private gatherings. A special squad of Rock Stars protected swimmers from the rock groins along the shore.
A highlight of this post-Labor Day fundraiser was awarding Paul Fanizzi the David Asher Volunteer award for his longtime support of the Swim and the community, and his resilience in rebuilding Fanizzi’s Restaurant after several tragic storms. The participation of the Wellesley High School girls’ swim team once again brought the crowd together at registration and at the start with their dramatic and rousing cheers. The top fundraising team was from Lily House that raised an eye-popping $39,000.
The Mermaid Brunch followed the Swim and featured catering by Far Land Provisions and music by Zoe Lewis.
Top individual fundraisers included sixty-seven swimmers and a kayaker who raised over $1000 each, joining the $1000 Club include:
Jim Youngerman, Lenox, MA, $11,400
Brian Sarr, Bedford, MA, $9,060
Gail Strickland, Provincetown Community Compact board member, $8,660
Mike Dillion, Provincetown, $7,545
Jonathan Scott, Provincetown, $5,725
Ethan Herschenfeld, Truro, $4,500
Chris Nagle, North Truro, $4,150
George Kimmerling, Manor, NY, $3,825
Amy Graves, North Truro, $3,570
Libby Clark, Provincetown, $3,475
Gene E. Landis, Amesbury, $3,150
Jane Barber, Breckenridge, CO, $3,000
Hunter Gaiotti, Provincetown, $2,900
Also: Maura Twomey, Neal Fessler Fessler, Linda Simon, Timothy Schirmang, Glenn Cunha, Loren Shure, Eric Hemmert, Laurie Shields, George Stamides, Peter Shearer, Jen Shannon, Terry Stangel, Adam Cambier, Jeff Giles, Bonnie Kramer, Paula Erickson, Ann Rogers, Bonnie Bishop, Amy Carow, Valerie Shulock, Jim Small, Karen Friedman, Jarrod Beck, Jennifer Goldstein, Sue Kriegsman, Hedda Rublin, Maxwell Richter, Lisa Zraket, Anne Critchley, Liz Carney, Raju Srivastava, Hara Klein, Mark Ault, Jim Seligman, Erik Koper, Brandon Macpherson, Jill Finsen, William Lawson, James Hawley, Joe Stewart, Boris Stefanov, Sue Johnson, Jeff Walker, Amy Waltch, Kimberly Duir, Terri Gerber, Robbie Manke, Jason Greene, Jabba Redgrave, Marianne Ambrose, Nancy Kates, Pat Rooney, Carol Katz, Bruce Hurter, Jean Powers, Stephanie Critch, Judy Ullman, Lisa Zraket.
Other Swim for Life teams included: Wellfleet Great Pond Mermaids at $9,700; Willapalooza at $6,125; OllieBB; Moving Violations Motorcycle Club and Friends; Team Powers Keiber; Team Thrift; Team DarbyFrench; Wellesley High School Swim and Dive Team; Infinite Coastline; Team ASGCC; Bayview Bathers; Team Friends Not Food; ShellZ; Swimmin’ Wimen; Team Vegan; Team Dangelo; Team Gebhardt; The Hot Tubs; Team Dropo; and Shark&Whale.
