‘Mission on the Mon’ raises $11,500 for Cancer Bridges

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Toasting their successful swim are, from left, Libby Ernharth, Justin Dutta, Jennifer Patyk, Judy Caves and Norm Caves.

Courtesy of Judy Caves

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The sun rises over the Monongahela River before the charity swim takes place.

Courtesy of Judy Caves

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The four swimmers on their aquatic journey under the Rankin Bridge in the Monongahela River

Courtesy of Judy Caves

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For the fifth straight year, Judy Caves and friends swam for charity in the Monongahela River, and this year’s “Mission on the Mon” was a success.

The Mt. Lebanon woman, along with Jennifer Petyk of South Fayette, Juston Dutta of Squirrel Hill and Libby Ernharth of Fox Chapel, swam five miles the morning of Aug. 2, raising $11,500 for Cancer Bridges, a nonprofit where Caves volunteers that is dedicated to providing services for those impacted by cancer.

“It went really well,” Caves said. “I don’t think I’ve seen the river in such a pleasant state in all of the years I’ve been swimming in it. It was calm. There was no wind. The water temperature was about 82 degrees. The air temperature was 63. There was a bright sunrise. It was really nice.”

They began their five-mile swim at Duck Hollow in Homestead, traveling to the Rankin Bridge before returning to Duck Hollow. The swim was completed in a little under three hours.

“We were swimming pretty leisurely when we were going up the river because we wanted to enjoy it,” Caves said. “We didn’t want to make it stressful or make it a race. We wanted to stay together and make it a team event.”

On a video Cancer Bridges produced about the swim, Jennifer Kehm, the organization’s development and program coordinator, expressed gratitude for the efforts of the foursome.

“It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever been involved with,” she said. “It’s just a phenomenal event, and we’re so grateful they’re doing this to raise money for Cancer Bridges and to fund all of our free critical support programs for anyone impacted by cancer.”

Caves continues to be amazed at the generosity of people who have supported the swims to benefit charities such as the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank, Light of Life Ministries and Glimmer of Hope for breast cancer research.

“I guess it’s a lesson in what you set your sights on and what your goal is,” Caves said. “We’ve always set a goal and we’ve received a little bit more … People step up.

“Jen Petyk said she didn’t know if she wanted to do this again next year, but she said it makes her feel so good that she wants to keep doing it.”

Donations are still being accepted for this year’s swim at https://bit.ly/cbmonriver.