×

Swimming team honors those lost to cancer

Vienna family raises funds for cancer research

Vienna native Andy Rieger and his father, Gil Rieger, are raising awareness for cancer research by taking part in two national Swim Across America events this year.

Andy, a 1991 Mathews High School graduate, said he and his father on April 30 swam in Lake Longhorn just south of Houston for the first event. The second event is set for Aug. 6 in Lake Michigan at Ohio Street Beach in Chicago.

Andy and Gil swim to honor the memories of Andy’s wife, Jordana, and his brother, also Gil’s son, Matt, who both died of cancer.

This is the fourth year the father and son have participated in the Swim Across America event in Houston, but the first time in Chicago.

“The Chicago event is a bigger event with a bigger lake and more participants,” Andy said.

He said the Houston event had 60 swimmers and the Chicago is expected to have 200.

Again this year, Team Rae was in the water in honor of Andy’s wife, who passed away in 2018 after a six-year battle with cancer. Jordana also was a 1991 Mathews graduate.

”Team Rae increased its presence this year as we had nine swimmers and one volunteer. Last year we had a team of five. We were the top fundraising team in Houston bringing in over $12,000 so far,” Andy said.

He said he and his father were second and third respectively in individual fundraising with more than $4,800 himself and $2,700 from his father.

Andy said in addition to his father, his mother was a volunteer at the Houston event. Another Warren native is on Team Rae.

Kristen Van Fossan Paternina graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in 1991 and now lives in Fulshear, Texas, in the Houston area.

“Kristen and I swam together growing up on the Trumbull County YMCA swim team back in the 80s. We grew up together,” Andy said.

In addition to the four Warren area natives, the rest of the team consisted of Kristen’s daughter, Katherine Paternina; a few of Andy’s West Point classmates from his 1995 graduating class, Amber Dossey and Heidi Ketchum; and some local friends / swimmers, Alisha Davis, Nicole Schoppe and Nico Nagels.

“The majority of Team Rae swam the 1/2 mile event with the exception of Nico and myself. We each swam the 2-mile event,” Andy said.

Over the last four years at SAA- Houston, Team Rae has raised more than $35,000 to support cancer research at MD Anderson, he said.

“It is very gratifying to take part in the event and raise money knowing it will help others who are battling cancer,” he said.

Andy said he has organized Team Matt to participate in Swim Across America – Chicago in honor of his brother Matt, who passed away last year after his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Andy said the team consists of himself, his father and mother, sister, Amy Bos of Heber City, Utah, a 1984 graduate of Mathews High School, and brother, Thad of Columbus, a 1982 graduate of Mathews High School.

Rieger said anyone interested in joining Team Matt in Chicago can do so at www.swimacrossamerica.org.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to Team Matt can do so by visiting the SAA website at www.swimacrossamerica.org under the link to donate or by check. Checks should be mailed to Swim Across America, PO Box 223, Riverside, IL 60546. Make checks out to “Swim Across America” and include a note mentioning “Team Matt” and / or the swimmer you are supporting.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today