A lot has changed in Provincetown over the past four decades, but one thing has remained a constant: the strong sense of a community that stands together—or swims together, as the case may be.
Especially on Saturday, Sept. 12, when the 39th annual Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla plunges into Provincetown Harbor and Wellfleet’s Great Pond.
Every September since 1988, hundreds of participants in Swim for Life have stroked a 1.2-mile route along the East End shoreline to raise money for local nonprofits. This year, the beneficiaries include AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Outer Cape Health Services and Helping Our Women, an organization that improves access to health care for Outer Cape women with life-threatening illnesses. Does doing the breaststroke for over a mile seem a bit daunting? Swim for Life also offers a half-mile route, as well as a walking option for landlubbers, to make sure that nobody is left out.
Those on the harbor shore can join the Watch Party to cheer the swimmers on along the Swim route at the Cape Codder Guest House (570 Commercial St.), St. Marys (enter at 521 Commercial St.) and Angel Foods (467 Commercial St.).
And don’t miss the famous Mermaid Brunch at Provincetown’s Johnson Street’s Beach, catered by Far Land Provisions, with the Awards Ceremony set for 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
More: swim4life.org